Embracing Photo Imperfections That Make a Moment Perfect
Perfectly imperfect family photograph. That is how I see this slightly blurry photograph of my Mum and me in Blackpool in the late 1970s. It was taken by my official photographer ‘Dad’ on our family camera, the Kodak 126, a camera I still have and treasure to this day.
As a photographer, you would probably expect me to look at photographs and find the faults and look at how it could have been better. But I think there really is a place for embracing imperfections and appreciating a photo for what it truly means and says. This quick photo of me with my beautiful Mum (Olive) captures a moment that instantly takes me right back to our seaside holiday which I had so looked forward to. I vividly remember making a long list of what I needed in my suitcase before we set off. Those trainers were a must-take item for the trip!
Of course, in my professional photography life, I take huge pride in capturing images that are clean, creative and eye-catching. But I am a huge advocate for bucking the current trend for perfection – where every image is filtered, altered and enhanced. Our day to day captures should be just that – snapshots of our lives. To come across a bunch of old photographs in a drawer is a pure delight. There is nothing better than being transported back to a moment in time, where memories, happy and sad, are evoked. These memories are precious. I can almost smell the Blackpool sea air when I look at this photo. The weather was obviously a bit overcast, typical for a trip to the North West coast. But the feelings I get when looking at it are pure sunshine. Me with my Mum and Dad behind the camera looking to capture that holiday photo at the beach.
A great photograph captures a moment, a feeling and a memory. That is what matters and that is why I love this photo so much x