I won’t call it a bad habit, but I definitely skew towards perfectionism. I want my pictures to be in focus, perfectly composed, and in the best light. Anyway, I shoot quite a bit of nightlife, so I’ve had to make peace with blown focus, inconsistent exposure, and other specs that probably mean nothing to anyone who isn’t a photographer.

After a few months shooting at The Rose Room, a weekly circus and nightlife supper club currently running at the Triad Theatre, my approach changed. I remember after one of my early shoots, I asked if some lighting changes could be made so I could better capture the performers. But as I’ve attended and shot more nights at the Rose Room, I’ve come to realize that I’m not really there to capture the performers. It’s more about capturing the experience.

So I’ve been letting myself have more fun with it. This week, I shot with a prism that I forgot I even had in my bag. I’ve leaned into the grain of clarity and the blown lights, losing performers to fog machines and dark spots. Instead of getting frustrated about a blown focus, I try to lean into what the focus DID capture instead.

What will next week bring? We’ll see. And maybe I’ll see you there!

[photos were taken on September 29, 2021 at the Triad Theatre, NYC]