Above: I photographed this uber cool store display Fotografi Reykjavik in Reykjavik using my Canon 5DMK11 and Canon 24-105mm lens.
Ever wondered what the world’s most perfect photo looks like?
Maybe there could be a worldwide search for the most perfect photo. Kind of like Miss Universe, only classier and with better sponsors. I’m looking at you Nutella.
The Miss Universe of photos could be called Pixel Perfection (working title) and be open to all professional photographers, enthusiasts and instafamous. There would be no age limit or megapixel size and images could be film, digital, pinhole, colour, or black and white.
In Miss Universe, contestants are put through gruelling challenges such as the bikini challenge or general knowledge challenge and given scores by a panel of beauty experts, celebrities and a Kardashian or two.
Pixel perfection would see images scored and rated by a panel of the world’s foremost experts in photography including the world’s top commercial photographers, film makers, art directors, designers, art critics, models and maybe a Kardashian or two for good measure.
The winning image would get a crown and a sash, who doesn’t love a sash? There will be tears and lots of confetti. Cool huh?
So what qualities does the most perfect photo in the world possess and can it be listed and scored like a Miss Universe contest?
I would have the following categories:
- Subject
- Use of light
- Quality of light
- Sharpness
- Composition
- Post production
- Quality of blur
- Quality of grain
I’ve been researching this idea for a while now, I’ve spent the last 25 years or so trying to discover what makes an image perfect and I’ve finally worked it out! I have my entry ready and I don’t like to brag… but I think my entry might just win… wanna sneak peek?
This is my version of the world’s most perfect photo
Above: This is what perfection looks like
I know right? It’s incredible. The subject is perfect, as is the light, contrast and composition. This image cannot be faulted!
The problem with perfect is it can be kind of dull. If I hang my perfect photo on the wall, it will be neither loved or hated. There is nothing about the perfect image that will offend, or inspire a reaction. You can look at the perfect image and feel nothing.
So if you want to create the perfect photo then do nothing, because it already exists as a blank canvas, or a blank sheet of photographic paper or an empty file. This is the perfect state. Once you add anything to this image it’s no longer perfect and never will be.
If you want to create great images then embrace the flaws and imperfections because this is what makes your work unique and interesting.
How much time are you wasting trying to get your shot looking perfect? The perfect lighting does not exist, you can get close, but there will always be room for improvement. This applies to postproduction, composition, posing, lens choice and every single variable in photography.
“One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist… Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.” ― Stephen Hawking
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to finish my acceptance speech…
