Learning to cope with life after missing that shot
By Mark Quaile
14 Apr 2009
Every photographer has experienced the feeling of disappointment, anger, frustration or just sheer upset which fills every corner of the creative body at the very instant that shot is missed. And if any photographer tells you differently, then the simple fact is that they're not a real photographer.
Everybody's world is filled with tiny moments; none of them are irrelevant. A photographer's duty is to capture those moments and save the blink of the eye they've been privileged enough to observe since it was in fact, truly unique.
That shot is the moment when it all falls in to place. The photographer need simply raise the camera to his face and click. We take hundreds of photographs, trying to create moments, moving around our subject to get the perfect angle, waiting for hours to put the moment to film... but that shot needn't be searched for, it's the cliché that presents itself.
It's being in France as the guy on the moped smokes his cigarette and admires the girls who, disregarding all stereotypes, effortlessly provoke desire. The expression on his face as he takes a moment from his less-than-busy schedule to appreciate the mermaid, who after carelessly stepping into her skirt, tights and leather boots that morning, lures passers-by, wandering the streets effortlessly turning heads, didn't take any searching it was just there.
It's being in the grandiose German embassy in London and stepping out for one second, to be made witness to the ambassador who whilst leaving his guests, bolts up across the red carpeted stairs square before your eyes, past the huge portraits of unknown noble gentlemen, in a way that only such an uncharismatic man is able. Of course you brought a camera, but the ISO 200 film won't do much for you under the gentle chandeliers.
There are literally countless examples of moments that you failed to preserve, but of course if you've read this far they don't need explaining to you. You are picturing the shot; you know that you failed, you know that you missed it and it's never coming back.
So what does it mean to miss it? It means you were the witness. It means that out of all of those fantastic shots, those Kodak moments that are truly irreplicable, yours isn't one of them although it so nearly was.
We miss them because of simple equipment problems. A photographer needs a keen eye, but he also needs a high ISO in low light and a wide angle lens for sprawling subjects. It also happens on occasions that your shot simply didn't capture what it was supposed to: your subject was too far away or was blurred; you took it candidly and just missed. Sometimes the shutters don't fire and batteries do run out.
Sometimes we're not allowed to shoot, or your perfect character doesn't want to be photographed. Even worse, sometimes we don't have the courage. How many times have you felt yourself walking away from the opportunity to capture a real moment, kicking yourself as you do? And that, that is the inexcusable, albeit understandable when we risk a swift jab to the face or at best an embarrassing lashing of the tongue.
Personally speaking, it's not just my photographs I've destroyed. I've misdevelopped friends' pictures at times. Even worse, a few months back as I was discovering the magic of soviet cameras and against my better judgement, I opened in broad daylight the back of my Cosmic Symbol to expose around thirty exposures on some twenty or thirty year old film from soviet Russia. My friend, despite his memory of my experience did the exact same with his GDR equipment just weeks later.
You can prevent this to a certain degree: always carry a camera, make sure you've spare batteries, and always have the confidence to take your shot. But the fact is that for every nine successful shots, there's one that you didn't get, and it's this shot that will play on your mind, regardless of how good it may or may not have been.
But don't forget, we want to deal with this. The question is, can we? Despite all the comforting words I may be able to offer you, you did miss the shot, and it isn't coming back. Even if you set out to get something similar, it's gone and it represents a failure as a photographer.
The answer is no, it's not possible to forget. But the thing that we, as photographers need to remember, is that it's all part of the game. There are shots that you know you shouldn't have got but you did, maybe even shots you didn't know you were taking. Of course you're not only a photographer but a human, and it's important to remember that at least you were there, and that nothing is for nothing.
Maybe missing the shot makes you more vigilant for the next time, and maybe reflecting upon my frustrations will encourage me to take my camera with me a lot more often, and to never be embarrassed or afraid of taking a photograph, since that's what I am and that's what I do.
Whatever you use to console yourself, remember that since it's an essential part of the game, there were always ten great shots but that you were only ever meant to get nine. We do it for the ones that work and which nine you get and which one you miss is arbitrary; it's an unavoidable rule in the game you're compelled to play.
2 responses
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Christina Atik said (15 Apr 2009):
that's exactly how i feel!!
just yesterday i missed one of the most magical moments just because i didnt have the guts to take the picture!
i was so disapointed with myself -
Syble Brabham said (17 Apr 2009):
Maybe not the shot-- but had a story that was really good-- this person on here had people telling me to take it down--and I deleted it and then got maybe 300 e-mails saying why? This was a family member and I think it was jealousy But I got over it-- just know the feeling
