Art of Imperfection: A Journey Through the Evolution of Photography
The art of imperfection – Photography has evolved dramatically over the last century. This shift isn’t just about technological advancements; it’s also about how we perceive what makes a photograph “great.”
Coming to you from Alex Kilbee with The Photographic Eye, this thought-provoking video dives into the changing aesthetics of photography, from early, technically imperfect images to the hyper-detailed, vivid photos we see today. Kilbee highlights how early photographers, despite working with significant technical limitations, created images that still resonate with us due to their historical charm and the sheer novelty of capturing a moment in time. These pioneers weren’t obsessed with sharpness or detail; they were captivated by the alchemy of photography itself—a stark contrast to the precision-driven approach many photographers take today.
Kilbee recounts his own journey as a photographer, starting with the awe of simply developing film in a darkroom to later becoming fixated on technical perfection. He discusses how the pictorialist movement, which emerged as a reaction to the industrialization of photography, embraced these technical imperfections and turned them into a new aesthetic. This movement prioritized the artistic quality of an image over its technical accuracy, a concept that Kilbee finds intriguing and relevant even in today’s digital age.
As Kilbee explains, this obsession with technical perfection has deep roots. He touches on how photographers like Edward Steichen transitioned from the pictorialist style to what is now known as straight photography—marked by sharp focus, high contrast, and minimal post-processing. This shift, influenced by advances in camera technology and the demands of commercial photography, set the stage for the modern expectation that great photographs must be technically flawless. Yet, Kilbee points out that this focus on perfection has led many photographers to overlook the creative possibilities that come from embracing imperfections.
The video also touches on the resurgence of interest in film photography, driven by a desire to return to a more artisanal approach in an era dominated by digital and AI-driven imagery. Kilbee reflects on his own reluctance to fully embrace AI in photography, preferring the tactile, hands-on nature of film. He encourages viewers to not get hung up on achieving technical perfection but to find joy in the process of creating images, much like Steichen did later in his career when he returned to simpler, more personal photography. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Kilbee.