If you’re a photo artist in pursuit of perfection, then pinhole photography can be a lesson in how to ruin your day. It can be an extremely frustrating way of creating a photograph.

PODCAST: 2 minutes

Inspired by my conversation with artist Amy Davis last week, who encourages us to embrace the wonky and imperfect in our art, I enjoyed an energising couple of hours in today’s early spring sunlight, capturing this flutter of snowdrops.

Pinhole photography removes the opportunity for the photographer to overthink the image-making process. No lens, no precision shutter, just a piece of light sensitive paper in a light-tight box, and plenty of guesswork. It’s an invitation to abandon your skills to the elements, to kick back and enjoy the creative moment.

Sure, experience and knowledge as a photographer play a part, but ultimately you have to accept the image you’re given, and like it or not.

Today, I like it.

There’s beauty in not trying too hard.

Jerome