More Often Failed Than Successful
Sunday 19 October 2025, 13:26 by Nando Harmsen | 2,118 views | 8 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
We always look on in amazement at that one fantastic photo of an action moment. It doesn't matter whether it involves dogs, horses, sport, birds or animals. There are many failed photos behind that one fantastic photo.
We often think about those fantastic photos we've seen from others. Incredible photos that deserve a place on the wall. Of course, you need a bit of luck for that. And you need to take lots of photos.
Recently, I was in a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with the participants of the Lofoten autumn trip, photographing white-tailed eagles. Photos often go wrong then. Sometimes that feels like a failure. And that's normal.
When you look at the results on your camera's screen, they often look disappointing. They aren't sharp, they're too far away, or too close. They're blurred or show a strange pose. So how do those others get the photo right?
Don't worry, the photographers who can show a fantastic photo have hundreds of failed shots behind that one good photo. They don't show those. It's that one fantastic photo that matters. That's what it's all about.
We shouldn't expect all the photos from a session like this to turn out well. After all, you don't have everything under control. Experience can of course help, but even then more photos fail than succeed.
So don't be disappointed too quickly when you come back from photographing action. There will always be many failed shots among them. That's normal.
I'm therefore certain that the participants on my trip will have at least one fantastic photo. That's what it's all about.
About the author
Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.
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8 comments
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Mac wrote on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at 08:55 | replyDit is iets wat overal voorkomt, en overal onderbelicht is.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
Men ziet alleen de successen, is het in fotografie, is het in sport etc.
Al het harde werk en de mislukkingen ziet men niet. Die toch wel heel belangrijk zijn om bv die ene mooie foto te krijgen. -
Wilfried wrote on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at 10:38 | replyZonder die mislukkingen geen goede foto's. Dat is bij alle creatieve activiteiten zo. Hoe dikwijls wordt een scenario of script voor film herschreven? Door ondervinding en talent wordt het percentage missers minder. Die ene, die is al die moeite waard.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet. -
Paul van Aken wrote on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at 12:18 | replyDat is nu zo, laat staan in het analoge tijdperk, waar je niet zo vlot zoveel achter elkaar kon schieten. Toch zijn er uit die tijd ook veel prachtige fotos overgebleven. Dus ook zonder onze moderne apparatuur lukte het, ik denk door vakmanschap en heeeel veel geduld.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet. -
Nando
wrote on Wednesday 22 October 2025 at 09:07
| reply
Tegenwoordig lijkt het wel prijsschieten. Als je maar genoeg beelden per seconde hebt wordt de kans dat je iets hebt groter.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
Ik schrik wel eens hoeveel foto's er gemaakt worden tijdens een sessie zoals bij de arenden. -
Donald Willemsen wrote on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at 15:11 | replyMet de pre-burstmodus instellingen op steeds meer systeemcamera's wordt de kans van slagen toch al wat groter.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet. -
Liesbeth Verkade wrote on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at 19:12
| reply
Dankjewel Nando voor deze bijdrage. Ik loop steeds vaker aan tegen mislukte foto's, ondanks zorgvuldige planning en tevoren goed nadenken over de instellingen. Eerlijk gezegd werd ik er echt moedeloos van en dacht er serieus over mijn camera maar aan de wilgen te hangen :-( . Misschien dan toch nog maar weer eens blijven proberen.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet. -
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Donald Willemsen wrote on Wednesday 22 October 2025 at 09:15 | reply
Daar dacht ik ook al aan Nando. Daarbij komt ook nog dat je niet alles moet willen doen wat een ander doet. Vogelfotografie bijvoorbeeld is enorm populair vandaag de dag, maar mij ligt dat niet zo. Dus houd ik het bij de fotografie waar ik goed/beter in ben.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
Dus Liesbeth houd je vooral bezig met de tak van fotografie waar je goed in bent. Laat die wilgen nog maar even met rust
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