Episode 003: Chasing Perfection
Please don't look sad. We're trying.
Perspective - Chasing Perfection
If you didn't know, I've been working on a zine/book since the start of the year. It got off to a great start, and I was feeling motivated. A few weeks ago, something happened, and I started feeling like the direction it was going in wasn't good enough. I've been thinking maybe everything could be a little bit better. I want everything to be perfect, which might cause more harm than good. Am I now only chasing perfection?
I've only made two zines in the past, "Battlefield Blvd" and "Cornered." Honestly, neither of them was very good; however, the idea of Battlefield Blvd was on the right track for what I wanted to make. The problem was the photography featured in the zine. It has been three years since it came out, and I feel more confident in my photography now. Also, the biggest problem with Battlefield Blvd was I rushed making it, and I settled on what photos made the final cut. These were two mistakes that I will not repeat. Now it has been three years, and every zine I make ends up being scrapped because I could make it better in some way.
I think it is a normal, and almost expected, feeling to look back at old work and cringe at what we once thought was great. Due to the type of photography I enjoy, and the area I live in, I'm lucky I can go back and reshoot most of the photos I've taken over the years. At this point, it's almost a yearly tradition. However, this feeling of trying to make everything a little better has to stop at some point. There is no such thing as perfection in photography; if there is, there is only so much we can do as photographers to create it.
Maybe there is a happy medium between putting out something rushed just to make something, and taking so much time that nothing is ever really finished. The photos below are always in the back of my mind. The top is from March 2020 and is in Battlefield Blvd, and the bottom photo is from a few months later in the same spot. I think about these two photos constantly. My biggest fear is I’m going to repeat the same mistake of not waiting a little bit longer for the perfect day or light to take a photo. There is something so final about putting a photo to print, but these photos were a valuable lesson I learned from.
I think it is time for me to give up this idea of making the perfect zine/book. I have to trust my gut and do my best to create something I'm proud of and that some people may enjoy. We can't make people like or love our work. So my advice is as much for me as it is for you, shoot what you want, just try your best, and have some patience. At some point, that has to be enough because there is no such thing as perfection.
Contact Sheet - Zine Preview
Speaking of the zine, here is a sample of sixteen photos that I have planned to be in the zine. It is a mix of older and new photos that I have gone back and re-edited to match. I'm noticing that there are a lot of red and orange in these photos that I'm putting together, so I'm going to lean into them. Someone made a good point that I don't want this to be too many photos, and it all starts to blend.
The original idea of the zine was “Oh, what a waste” where it was things left behind, mundane, or wasted in some way. Whether that was the old movie theater, dropped bagels I found, or old cars on the side of the road. I think it is going to be important to refocus on that moving forward. However, like I was saying in the “Perspective” section, there is going to be a cut-off at some point and I’m going to have to start putting this together.
Artist in Focus - De Lewis
De Lewis is a photographer and firefighter from Washington, USA. I always look forward to seeing his work come across my timelines on Twitter and Instagram. I must warn you, he has been buying up some records lately and posting his pickups on Twitter, and now I have a strong urge to get into vinyl.
Two Hour Radio - Current Joys
Now playing on Two Hour Radio is the band Current Joys. Their song "Fear" from the album A Different Age has been a go-to for me lately and fits my current mood. This has a lot to do with a playlist that was recommended to me on Spotify titled, "sad girl starter pack." If you like Men I Trust, Beach House, Japanese Breakfast, Her's, and other bands like that, you might be interested in checking it out. I'll leave the link below for you.
Current Joys - Fear (Live):
sad girl starter pack, playlist:
Developing News
I have some really exciting things in the works, but sadly I’m under NDA. I hope by the next episode of this I can tell you what I have planned. However, until then I can’t say much.
As always, if you have any zines or projects you’d like to promote, I don’t mind putting them here. Please, just make sure they are ready to share. There is no rush, so take your time.
Love, y’all. Thanks for stopping by.
Great piece of writing Jason. I love both photos, but I actually prefer the first Kmart Garden Shop photo. I like the symmetry of empty planters in the square format. In regard to zines, depending on how you publish them, you could look at them like artist's sketchbooks, it could be about developing a series. Also, this is a great opportunity to make a second issue - Battlefield Blvd Revisited. Not sure if you were looking for advice, but that's my two cents.
great issue Jason! keep going!