Done is better than perfect
a mantra for 2025
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for life to slow down a bit. The holidays are always such a whirlwind, and it’s hard to believe we’re already in 2025!
As I look ahead to 2025, one thing that stands out is how often I find myself in the cycle of endless re-editing, never quite feeling like any of my photos are truly finished. I can't tell you how many times I revisit photos, never quite finishing them, which drives me crazy, I dislike leaving things unfinished. This year, I want to be more mindful of completing my work and letting go of perfectionism.
A conversation with a painter a few years ago always comes to mind whenever I fixate on small imperfections in my photos. While explaining why I’d hired him instead of painting my home myself, I mentioned how I couldn’t stand spotting every little flaw. He told me, “I’ll notice small mistakes when I’m done, but unless the customer points them out, I let them go. The beauty of hiring someone else is that you won’t see those imperfections because you didn’t create them.”
As Sheryl Sandberg wisely said:
“Done is better than perfect.”
I've never been one for rigid resolutions. Instead, I've chosen to focus on a specific area for growth in 2025. I know there will be bumps along the way, but I'm committed to making it a priority.
As part of my commitment to finishing what I start, I'm choosing to complete an image that's been in the works for over a decade. I took it back in 2013 at Weehawken Waterfront Park in New Jersey, on a cold evening by the Hudson River. At the time, I was traveling for work and still learning the ropes of my new Canon 5D Mark III. The conditions were tough, biting wind, dark skies, and a borrowed tripod, but I was determined to capture the New York City skyline.
There were several shots I played with, including the one below, a wide 24mm shot that I can easily call done.
But after several attempts, I took a step back and discovered the shot I was looking for. The empty benches introduce a sense of solitude that pops up a lot in my work. There was something about that solitude, juxtaposed with the busy city skyline, that spoke to me.
I found the color of the benches in the foreground distracting from the image, so I switched to a black-and-white edit. Below is the final image and is available now in my store.
So, while this photo isn’t perfect and there are areas I’d improve if I returned, I’m calling it ‘done.’ Moving forward into 2025, my goal is to apply this ‘done is better than perfect’ approach to more projects, rather than endlessly putting them aside with the intention of coming back to them later.
How about you? Is there a resolution or focus you’ve set for the new year?
I’d love to hear about it, feel free to drop a comment or reply!
As always, thanks for reading!
-Karl