Be bold and fearless

[Vtec44]

I think this is a beautiful video that we all can relate too. I was a perfectionist and it did kill my creativity.

"Perfection kills creativity... Be bold and fearless!" I hope this will inspire you.

@JustJazzie, @e.rose ,@Robin Usagani

 

[Overread17 5]

Sounds like a neat pitch to a working creative professional.

Not really good advise for beginners.

It focuses on the idea that there is no perfection and that the key is to get things done (as well as some other aspects as well of course). The thing is that is good advice for someone already skilled within a craft who has talent and who will (even under such advice) be using a degree of quality control on their work. It's basically about teaching people who are more advanced that "yeah there's "perfection" but you've got to let go of that hazy theoretical perfection and appreciate reality.

For beginners its not good advice to give because it can teach complacency too early. They will focus a little too much on "finishing" and thus might never reach their potential long before they've even really got started working out which end of the lens is which.

 

[Vtec44]

It depends on how you look at it. I've seen beginner photographers that blow everyone out of the water because they refused to be conformed and think outside of the box. They refused to be perfect. IMHO it is critical from the beginning to know that it is okay to be imperfect. Art is suppose to be open, curious, and limitless.

 

[Overread17 5]

The problem is that too many people try to divide art into this concept of "theory inside the box" and "freedom without theory". The idea being that theory somehow constrains creativity whilst at the same time lack of any awareness increases creativity.

My view is that that makes no sense.
Creativity is a persons skill in bringing together what they have and what they know and combining it together. Thus learning tools - learning skills and, yes, having a level of personal standards generally works to improve upon that. Heck if you go back into history many of the "great" artists of their day were formally trained (some for many years). Others grew up under heavy exposure to the artistic world and thus learned informally. Today we've an even greater chance to learn art informally because of the massive bombardment by it that we get every say.

That said we are getting away from the topic - yes a newbie can be very creative, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't learn. By learning they will learn new tools and also hopfully come to understand better what it is that they are doing.

 

[JustJazzie]

You and your ninja tagging skills!!

Ill have to try and pull this up on my phone when Its done charging. Thanks for thinking of me!

 

[Vtec44]

I don't think it has anything not learning but a lot to do with not being constrained by theories. Being imperfect and not learning are two different things IMHO.

 

[Overread17 5]

I don't think it has anything not learning but a lot to do with not being constrained by theories. Being perfect and not learning are two different things IMHO.

However I would say that a prime desire to learn it to improve what we produce - ergo if not to achieve, to very much chase the idea of perfection. Or if not really perfection, but the quality that others are capable of producing.

It's once we are there, or nearly there. When the problems are smaller and little niggles that we have ot start learning to reign in that desire to perfect and to let what we create stand on its own. But I wouldn't tell someone starting out to just accept what they have; to not chase that "perfect" shot (especially as at that stage their idea of perfection will be greatly defined by the works of others)

 

[photoguy99]

We say this in software too. 'Perfect is the enemy of done.'

Love it. And I try to live it.

Most people on photo forums don't even believe in the idea of done. Can't you just go keep tweaking a file forever?

 

[Vtec44]

The huge "improvement" I made for myself was changing from trying to be perfect to accept that it is okay to be imperfect. There's no "perfect" shot to chase. This is not the same as telling people to stop learning. Learn all you can, but also learn that it is okay to be imperfect. Recognize that being perfect can kill your creativity. That alone is part of the learning process.

 

[DandL]

I think this is a beautiful video that we all can relate too. I was a perfectionist and it did kill my creativity.

"Perfection kills creativity... Be bold and fearless!" I hope this will inspire you.

@JustJazzie, @e.rose ,@Robin Usagani

Thank you for posting this video! Not only can perfectionism kill creativity, it can prevent one from even starting because of the fear of not living up to a self imposed, unattainable standard. I consider perfectionism to be a curse, something I struggle with to the point it's almost paralyzing.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Vtec44]

Thank you for posting this video! Not only can perfectionism kill creativity, it can prevent one from even starting because of the fear of not living up to a self imposed, unattainable standard. I consider perfectionism to be a curse, something I struggle with to the point it's almost paralyzing.

Thanks for sharing.

I'm glad at least 1 person out there can relate.

 

[DavidVote]

I think this is a beautiful video that we all can relate too. I was a perfectionist and it did kill my creativity.

"Perfection kills creativity... Be bold and fearless!" I hope this will inspire you.

@JustJazzie, @e.rose ,@Robin Usagani

Thank you for posting this video! Not only can perfectionism kill creativity, it can prevent one from even starting because of the fear of not living up to a self imposed, unattainable standard. I consider perfectionism to be a curse, something I struggle with to the point it's almost paralyzing.

Thanks for sharing.

"can prevent one from even starting because of the fear of not living up to a self imposed, unattainable standard"

Me in a nutshell right now

 

[Vtec44]

"can prevent one from even starting because of the fear of not living up to a self imposed, unattainable standard"

Me in a nutshell right now

Regardless of where you are in your creative career, I think we all go through creative slumps. I just tell myself to trust my own instinct. People hire me because they trust me and my own vision, not someone else's. I need to trust me.

 

[DavidVote]

"can prevent one from even starting because of the fear of not living up to a self imposed, unattainable standard"

Me in a nutshell right now

Regardless of where you are in your creative career, I think we all go through creative slumps. I just tell myself to trust my own instinct. People hire me because they trust me and my own vision, not someone else's. I need to trust me.

I'll go out shooting tomorrow. Hopefully. I'll try my best.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I'm managed sometimes to drive myself nuts with something I'm working on, have to make myself put it down and walk away lol...

I don't think you necessarily need to go for perfection but then again, there's something to be said for being good at something, feeling like you did your best, putting your all into it, taking pride in your work. But I think you have to love something to keep plugging away at it, and figure out if something may not be for you.

Try to get out there and enjoy it and see where it takes you from there.