Let’s talk about something photographers rarely admit: imitation has a bad reputation. Today, we’re surrounded by billions of photos online. You spot an amazing image on Instagram, pause to admire it, and feel both inspired and a little discouraged. You might think, “I wish I shot that.” Then comes the next thought: “Maybe I can recreate it.”

There’s something strange about being a photographer in the digital age. We take thousands of photos, spend hours editing them, post a few online, maybe archive the rest onto hard drives… and somehow convince ourselves that’s enough. I have been doing that for a couple of years now.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve looked at a photo I should love… and I just didn’t.

You probably know the type of photo I’m talking about. Everything looks fine on paper—the exposure is good, the focus is sharp, and nothing seems out of place. But somehow, the image just sits there. It doesn’t pull you in or make you want to look twice.

With social media always within reach, scrolling through feeds became part of my daily routine. For years, I kept refreshing timelines, watching bits of other people’s lives, and comparing myself to them. Over time, I noticed these habits were taking up my time and energy, and even eroding my sense of who I was. That’s when I chose to stop scrolling and find joy in non-electronic hobbies again.