Are photos waiting to be discovered?

"This is what I see, and this is what I think is important."

One of the themes I really enjoy making for Darkrooms is the 'Un/Taken' section, where a photographer talks about the photo they did not take.
I’m sure you’ve read them all, but for those who haven’t, here’s your chance to read all 8 episodes of Un/Taken.

I've heard someone once say that the photograph you didn't take is still out there, waiting to be discovered. Well, is that true?

In a literal sense, an untaken photograph cannot be discovered. Once the shutter has not been released, the photo is lost forever. But in a more figurative sense, I think it is possible to say that a photograph not taken is still waiting to be discovered.

Photo: Markus Spiske via Unsplash

The act of taking a photograph is a creative act. It is the photographer's interpretation of the world around him. When a photographer takes a photograph, he or she is essentially saying, "This is what I see, and this is what I think is important."

What if the moment is not worth capturing

But what if the photographer does not take the photograph? What if they decide that the moment is not worth capturing? In that case, the photograph is still out there, waiting to be discovered. It is still a potential photograph, waiting for someone to see it and say, "This is what I see, and this is what I think is important."

So I think it is possible to say that a photograph that has not been taken is still waiting to be discovered. It is a photograph waiting for someone to find it and give it meaning. It is a photograph waiting to be seen.

Of course, this is all just a metaphor. But I think it is a powerful metaphor. It reminds us that the world is full of potential and that we should always be open to seeing things in new and different ways. We should never take anything for granted, because we never know what we might be missing.

Happy shooting!

Till next time,

---

DARKROOMS is a weekly photography newsletter, published on Tuesdays. See the archive for more posts & interviews. If this newsletter was shared with you, consider subscribing, or forward to your friends. Please whitelist the newsletter to ensure you never miss it.