In photography and in life, focus is everything. But there’s a subtle irony to it: being too focused can sometimes make you blind.
That may sound like a contradiction. After all, isn’t focus what drives results, separates amateurs from professionals, and makes us successful? Absolutely. But here’s the twist: if you're not careful, your dedication to a single idea, frame, or outcome can cause you to miss something extraordinary happening just outside your field of view.
Let me tell you a story.
The Setup: Preparation is Power
I arrived early, as I always do. Over the years, I’ve developed a personal rule, never show up on time. Always be early. An hour or two, at least (I try at least).
Why? Because no matter how many times I’ve been to a location, no two visits are the same. The tides shift. The light evolves. Cloud cover can transform a scene entirely. The variables are infinite.
Being early gives me room to observe and absorb. I check the angle of the sun, the direction of shadows, and the movement of the tide, whether it’s coming in or going out. I confirm high tide times and map out where the reflections might land. I study the environment like a chess board, mentally playing out how the light will interact with the subject over time.
On this particular evening, my subject was six small boats. I scouted the area thoroughly, examining angles, foregrounds, and backdrops, making mental notes of where each composition would work best when the light peaked. The aim was simple: to be efficient once the moment arrived. When the golden light makes its brief appearance, there’s no time for guesswork. You have to know exactly where to stand, what lens to use, and how to frame the shot.
The Moment: All Eyes on the Prize
As the sun began to dip, I locked into position, focusing on a single boat. I was after the perfect reflection in the still water. I fine-tuned my composition using a wide-angle 16–35mm lens, waiting for the right shimmer of light to bounce off the surface.
About twenty minutes before the end of the golden hour, something unexpected happened.
I paused. Something in me whispered to take a step back, literally. I switched lenses to a 24–70mm, thinking that maybe a tighter shot from a different vantage point might offer something new. That small, seemingly inconsequential decision changed everything.
As I turned around to reposition myself, there it was the shot I hadn’t planned for.
A golden sunset. Rich, textured clouds catching fire from the low sun. One of the boats I had previously scouted was now perfectly silhouetted against a glowing sky. It was breathtaking. And I had almost missed it.
The Lesson: Loosen the Grip
If I hadn’t stepped back. If I hadn’t paused to switch lenses. If I had stayed tunnel-visioned on my original composition, I would have walked away without the most compelling image of the day.
That moment reminded me of something a friend a brilliant photographer, once shared. He told me about a product shoot where he was entirely focused on lighting the subject just right. At one point, he moved a flash unit and noticed a dramatic shadow pattern forming across the background. That spontaneous discovery led to some of the best images of the session.
He also mentioned a wedding where he had to move to let guests pass through. That minor inconvenience led him to a new angle, one that captured the couple’s interaction in a way he hadn’t seen before.
His words echoed in my mind that evening: “Be focused. But stay open.”
The Parallel with Business and Life
This principle doesn’t just apply to photography. It holds true in business, leadership, and any creative or strategic pursuit.
How often do we become so fixated on a plan, a KPI, or a target that we overlook emerging opportunities? We may obsess over the details of a single project while a game-changing idea is forming quietly in the background. In our pursuit of “the shot,” we sometimes lose the bigger picture.
Marketing professionals are especially susceptible to this. They spend weeks crafting the perfect campaign, zeroing in on demographic data, customer behaviour models, and A/B testing strategies. But sometimes, the most resonant moment the one that truly connects with an audience is the unscripted one. The behind-the-scenes story. The accidental shot that tells a more human tale.
The Power of Presence
Focus isn’t just about discipline. It’s about presence.
When I’m on location with my camera, I’m fully in the moment. But I’ve learned that presence doesn’t mean rigidity. It means being aware of what’s happening around you, beyond what you initially came to capture.
There’s a balance to be struck between intention and intuition. Between planning and reacting. Between precision and openness. And often, our best work, the stuff that truly moves people, comes not from sticking rigidly to our plan, but from adapting when something better comes into view.
Bringing It Back to the Brand
As a photographer and visual storyteller under the brand No RePete Photos, I strive to offer images that are original, authentic, and emotionally resonant. That can only happen when I leave space for the unexpected.
Clients often ask about my process, how I plan, what gear I use, and how I approach composition. But more than anything, I emphasise this: I plan rigorously so I can react freely. I control what I can, so I’m ready to let go when something better appears.
In a world increasingly driven by automation, templates, and AI-generated content, there’s enormous value in staying human, in being present, responsive, and attuned to the moment.
Final Thought: Stay Flexible in Your Focus
It’s great to be focused. It’s essential, in fact. But remember: don’t lose focus being focused.
Allow space for the magic to happen. Build routines that allow for surprises. Learn to recognise when your tunnel vision might be costing you something greater.
Because sometimes, the best shot isn’t the one you came for, it’s the one you nearly missed.
