Coins in my Pocket
Small things can add up
I had an article almost done for today, but I was watching a YouTube video from photographer Nick Carver. He said something that sent my brain off in another direction altogether.
Here’s what he said that clicked:
“Not all photos are showstoppers, folks.
Then again, not all photos are meant to be. Some photos are like the coins in your pocket at the end of the day. On their own, they can’t get you much, so you just drop them in a jar in your closet and forget about them.
Then one day, some time has passed and you’ve got a jar full of coins that’s actually worth something.” — Nick Carver
Watch Nick’s video here:
Self-imposed Frustration
Too often, I have gone out with my camera and been frustrated because I felt like I needed to find something new and exciting to photograph.
Accepting the idea that not all photos need to be showstoppers gives me permission to take crappy photos. It gives me permission to experiment and be OK if not everything works.
It also gives value to the images you make that aren’t absolute stunners. They can still have interest. They may be great in a group or as supporting images.
Or they might be crap. But that’s OK.
Coin Collecting
A change in mindset from looking for that spectacular image to just being curious and capturing things as you explore a scene. Those images could become something later. A group. A story. A way of seeing a place that you wouldn’t have captured if you were only chasing the one perfect shot.
But I think it goes a little deeper than that.
The value isn’t just in what those images might become someday. It’s in what this mindset allows you to do while you’re there.
When you look beyond that one image that’s “worth it,” you start noticing more. You stay longer. You look at smaller things. You follow curiosity instead of pressure.
Your photography experience may not be quite as frustrating.
Because over time, that builds into something too.
✅ Where to Find Me
You can find more of my work on the web at: Simmons Photography
If you want to work with me, or inquire about licensing images: Contact Page
More of my work can be seen on Vero and Flickr.
Nice one, Bob. I think you hit on something here is worth talking about. There are many times that individual images don't really fit or sit right, but then you put them together with other images and they become interesting or "good" even. The image archives we keep are a treasure chest in many ways. What you've talked about fits in well with actually creating larger works rather than the one off viral showstoppers. There's strength in numbers I say. While one image you make may be weak, put it with 7 other weak images you've made and you may surprise yourself.