The war is internal, not technical.

Lessons From a Terrible Photographer is a book for creatives who feel stuck, burned out, or disconnected from their work, even though they know what they’re doing.

It’s not about gear or technique. It’s about the internal stuff no one talks about, and focusing on why we make work, not just how.

Preorders help determine the first print run. Copies ship once printing begins.

Preorder here:

https://www.terriblephotographer.com/the-book

June 6, 1944. Robert Capa is wading through the freezing water of Omaha Beach. He captures the most important images of the 20th century, and technically, they are a disaster. They are blurry. They are grainy. They are imperfect. And that is exactly why they matter.

In this episode, Patrick explores the physics of light, the "hostage negotiation" of the exposure triangle, and why we are so terrified of grain. We look at how the market has colonized our vision, leading us to trade atmosphere for information and "safe" images for honest ones.

Most importantly, Patrick confesses to "art directing" his own daughter's childhood—prioritizing perfect light over real memories—and asks if it's possible to trade competence back for presence.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The story of the "Magnificent Eleven" and Robert Capa’s D-Day photos.
• The Physics of Light: Why the exposure triangle is a hostage situation.
• Why ISO is like the volume knob on cheap speakers.
• The "Cultural Clean": Why Instagram and modern cinema feel so flat.
• A personal confession: Killing the moment to save the exposure.
• Why "Denoise" is the enemy of the soul.

Support the Show: If you enjoy these ramblings, or if this episode made you feel slightly less guilty about your grainy photos, consider fueling the next one. You can buy me a coffee (or let's be honest, a beer) to help keep the mics on and the existential spirals coming.

• Fuel the Mess: terriblephotographer.com/support

Links & Resources:

• Website: terriblephotographer.com
• Email the Show: [email protected] — Send questions, thoughts, or hate mail. I read everything.

Credits:

• Episode Photo: Hulki Okan Tabak
• Music: Blue Dot Sessions
• Sound Effects: Epidemic Sound