Every photographer has faced it—that sinking feeling of disappointment when things just don’t go as planned. Maybe it’s a matter of expectations, or perhaps a missed opportunity. But these moments are part of the process. Understanding how to handle these frustrations is crucial for anyone serious about photography.
Coming to you from Alister Benn, this candid video tackles an often-ignored topic: dealing with frustration. Benn opens up about his recent experiences, sharing how a seemingly perfect setup turned into a frustrating endeavor. He talks about his excitement over a new lens—specifically, the Fujinon 500mm f/5.6. Moving to a medium format system earlier in the year left him missing a longer focal length, and this new lens felt like the missing piece of his puzzle. But despite his high hopes, things didn’t go as smoothly as expected. He arrived at his shoot location only to realize he had forgotten his camera body. After returning to get it, he found the conditions had changed, and his vision for the shoot fell apart.
Benn’s story highlights a struggle that goes beyond just technical mishaps. After retrieving his camera, he spent hours experimenting with different compositions and settings, only to come up short. This left him feeling disappointed and stuck. Even with high-end gear and years of experience, frustration can creep in. The key takeaway here is that it doesn’t matter if you have the best equipment or a reputation for producing stunning work—bad days happen to everyone. It’s part of the process and something you’ll need to accept and learn from.
As he dives deeper into his experience, Benn points out how expectations can lead to dissatisfaction. A combination of limited gear and unfavorable conditions compounded his frustration. He shares that the lens, which he was initially excited about, turned out to be too long for many of the shots he wanted. This resulted in a situation where, even with an ideal lens for wildlife or long-distance shots, he found himself unable to capture the scenes that spoke to him. It serves as a reminder to not get too caught up in expectations and to be adaptable to changing situations.
Benn uses this example to illustrate a more significant point: it’s okay to have setbacks. He emphasizes that even seasoned photographers have days when things don’t work out. What’s essential is how you handle those moments. Frustration indicates that you care about your craft and want to improve. But letting it spiral can rob you of the joy that brought you to photography in the first place. Being patient and allowing yourself to walk away is sometimes the best way to deal with the situation. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Benn.
