I used to believe a good photograph had to be technically perfect – sharp focus, balanced exposure, no blur, no grain, and no flare. I chased technical perfection because it felt safe, equating crisp, controlled images with quality. But over time, I realized that the images I remembered most often broke these rules.
A blurred photo can feel more honest than one that is perfectly sharp. Grain adds atmosphere often missing in smooth digital images. Lens flare, once a flaw to me, brings warmth, softness, and a sense of memory.
