Debate: Is it a happy accident or just a screw up?

I had this one guy at the camera club last month. He looked at my photo where the film got fogged from a light leak. Said it was 'artistic' and 'adds character.' I almost laughed in his face. Man, I was just mad I wasted $12 on a roll of Portra 400. But then he showed me his own work, all full of these controlled double exposures. Made me wonder if there's a line between a mistake and a choice. Like, where do you draw it? Is it still a failure if someone else thinks it looks cool? Or is it just a screw up that you try to pretend was on purpose? Has anyone else had someone tell them their messed up shot is actually good?

2 comments

2 Comments

lisa_brown7d ago

Honestly yeah, have you ever looked at a photo you thought was ruined and then a week later saw it in a different light? I had a roll of black and white once where the whole thing came out looking like foggy ghost town shots. I was so mad I almost trashed it. But my buddy framed one and said it looked like a dream sequence, and now I kinda get what he meant even if I still wouldn't do it on purpose.

mark_nguyen957d ago

Bit of a nitpick but foggy ghost town shots sound pretty rad on purpose too honestly.