Oh the shame, the shame of it all!

What goes through your head when you see a shot that you missed. This Philosophy Wednesday will be a point counterpoint on this situation. In one corner we have Thomas Leuthard, a Swiss street photographer, and in the other, Pete Souza, the Kansas State educated official White House photographer to President barack Obama. Watch as they square off on the subject of "Missing that Decisive Moment."

"Often It's more important to see things than capturing them. When I miss an opportunity, I'm always happy that I saw it in the first place." - Thomas Leuthard

"[Interviewer] Is there a photo opportunity that you completely missed or regret?

[Pete Souza] Oh but I'll never talk about those ... Occasionally I'll miss a picture and ... it keeps me up at night."

- Pete Souza, 'Open for Questions'

How many times have we seen a great shot happen right in front of us but we didn't have our camera ready, or the shot didn't come out right, or *gasp* we didn't have a camera with us! It can be disappointing when we don't get what we want, but Thomas Leuthard would have us learn that something can always come from just getting out there, even from a missed opportunity. At first glance it may seem unfair to pair these 2 quotations off against each other as the situation, style, and pressure on the photographer are different for both of these people, but I believe that most photographers have felt both of these reactions at some point in their experiences.

The idea that is better to have seen the shot than not at all is very important for the photographer getting out of their house and training their eyes. When building up visual skills, especially as a street photographer, there are going to be many failures. Many shots that were too far away, not focused right, not framed properly (especially when shooting from the hip), or just plain taken at the wrong time will plague you and it is important and comforting to remember that this is all a part of the learning process.

However, Pete Souza has a valid point, that we should be in fear (at last in some degree) of missing the shots that we want. That fear will keep us sharp and on edge, waiting for the moment to cross our path. When I put down my camera in a busy room I am anxious. Not that the camera will be stolen, but that something will happen in the crowd while I am "unarmed" or otherwise unable to take the shot.

If one is to seek a middle ground, may I interject a third point. Being afraid to miss the shot and not simply be aware of it can often times result in a shot that, while alright, is definitively sub-par. Having something close to what you want can be infinitely worse than not having anything at all. Many times I have come home to my digital darkroom and been pleased when I see the thumbnail of a shot I wasn't sure I got, then disappointed when I see the full res image. But, I have already become attached to the image and so I begin to convince myself that it is good enough. Whatever aspect is lacking in the photo is made up for by my recollection of its context. To anyone else this photo will not bear the appropriate meaning, and my work will suffer for it. Don't try to convince yourself that you have the shot when you don't. Sometimes you just need to take solace in the fact that you saw it ... and then never speak of it again! :P