What’s The Point?

Asking the tough questions around our photography

Dec 29, 2024

I am not a photography critic. I tend to avoid giving feedback on other people’s work. The concept of portfolio reviews is something I still find strange. If given the choice, I’d rather speak about experiences than images. But, as with most things in life, there are exceptions. Whether it’s a peer seeking a second opinion or a mentee looking for guidance, I often find myself in a more altruistic position, ready to provide support. It’s in these moments that I typically start with one very simple question:

What’s the point?

The Details

This image was taken during my brief stay in Buenos Aires last week. Armed with a rich suite of lenses, I found myself gravitating toward the 50—a great companion for uncovering a city’s details and textures. The walls around this place became my canvas. When the light was out, Buenos Aires just beams energy and around every corner, where abstract scenes unfolded like an open-air museum. It’s an experience that’s only rivalled by the incredible cuisine.

This image was shot on the modern Summilux 50mm F1.4. I locked the aperture to F5.6 and the shutter speed to 1/500. This made sure I could freeze the moment without overcompensating in case I needed to document an alternative moment.

Confronting Our Self

What is the point of the image we’re looking at? Whether it’s analog or digital, the act of editing and sharing an image requires energy, and that energy demands intentional effort from within us. Yet, in this process, we often encounter competing forces that can dilute the essence of the story we’re trying to share.

From the dizzying array of editing tools to the overzealous use of presets, photographers can easily lose sight of the magic during the finishing stages of an image. Having experienced this so often in my own career, I’ve made it a habit to ask, “What’s the point?”

When I review my own photography, I ask myself: What am I trying to say or convey in this moment? It could be as complex as a story or as simple as a feeling. Or, in the case of this week’s image, it might be a representation of my first impressions of a historic city. Once I’ve answered that question—whether immediately or after some initial editing—I move on to finishing the image where the process is about enhancing context.

Does all photography need a point? No. Sometimes it’s purely about aesthetics, and that’s perfectly fine. But in the pursuit of creating our best work, I lean toward asking tough questions about the stories we choose to share. Doing so allows us to discover more about ourselves. And it’s not that we need to share the point publicly; rather, it’s about bringing greater intention and direction to our process.

New December Contest!

Each month, I’ll be giving away a $300 gift card to the Moment Shop where the winner can save big on their next camera, lens, bag, or courses. Moment has so many creative products to choose from and $300 can absolutely make for a better deal.

How am I picking the winner? All you have to do is be a free member of this community and leave a comment on this post. As with every contest, I’ll be randomly picking one person, confirming they meet the requirements and contacting them directly before announcing the winner publicly.

Once again, this contest is void where prohibited by law. Good luck!

My thanks to the team at Moment! Not only for this contest but for being the longest supporter of my work online. They’re a lean team of passionate creators that truly believe in supporting other creatives on their journey. Whether it’s a new camera, lens, workshop, or just some great articles, visit ShopMoment.com today.

What’s Next?

As some of you may have noticed, there was a delay in stories being shared to this community lately. My trip to the Antarctic was a lot more demanding than I had originally planned. But I’m gonna make sure we’re all caught up by the end of the week. And I know it might be a bit much for some of you, but I promise it’ll be worth the read.