A Series of Imperfect Actions
Hello friends. Today I’d like to chat with you about what surfing and photography have in common. Have you ever tried surfing? Tell me about it in the comments.
From the shore, surfing looks kind of easy. You sit on a board, wait for a wave, paddle a few times and go soaring down the face of the wave, smiling from ear to ear at the sheer delight of playing in the water. Sure, that happens once in a while.
But the rest of the time, surfing is constant adjustments, missed opportunities, incorrect positioning, and wiping out so hard you can’t tell which end is up… all while trying not to drown. Sometimes, like for me this spring, surfing is a bloody forehead and a new scar.
Surfing is a series of imperfect actions, over time, which make you a better surfer when the conditions are ideal. It’s paddling out when the wind creates choppy water, when the water is frigidly cold, when you arms are tired and the right tide is at some absurdly early hour.
It’s sitting patiently in cold water, trying to figure out if that fin was a dolphin or something else while balancing on a board wearing a rubber suit that feels 10 sizes too small.
Surfing is patience, and perseverance, and sheer willpower.
“ Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.”
But with practice, surfing is magic. Because when the conditions align, your effort is rewarded with that ear to ear grin and surf stoke to carry you through the rest of the day. Doesn’t that sound worth all the imperfect moments, wipe outs, and scars?
Now that you’ve reached the end, go back and start at the beginning, but replace the word surfing with photographing. It’s not a perfect translation, but you get my drift. Photography, like surfing, is a series of imperfect actions, repeated over time, which will give you the tools you need when the conditions are just right.
Thank you for joining me In Search of Wonder. Until next time.
💛 Jenny
Join me at the next Saltwater Retreat to witness the magic of sunrise on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Saltwater Retreat is a women’s photography retreat and creativity workshop designed to educate, inspire and help you become the photographer you long to be. Held on the shores of Cape Hatteras, this is chance for women photographers to spend a week immersing themselves in the craft of creating photographs without the distractions of home.
