To be honest, every now and then there is a word where I just can’t properly grasp the meaning of it (English is not my native language…). Candid is surely one of them. I know I’ve looked it up many times before but somehow it doesn’t stick. So here it is again, even if only as a note to myself.
can·did
ˈkandəd/
adjective
adjective: candid
1.
truthful and straightforward; frank.
“his responses were remarkably candid”
synonyms:
frank, outspoken, forthright, blunt, open, honest, truthful, sincere, direct, plain-spoken, straightforward, ingenuous, bluff; Moreinformalupfront, on the level, on the up and up
“his responses were remarkably candid”
antonyms:
guarded
2.
(of a photograph of a person) taken informally, especially without the subject’s knowledge.
synonyms:
unposed, informal, uncontrived, impromptu, natural”candid shots”

But it is apparently not only the meaning of the word I’m struggling with. As much as I admire the ability of others to be bold – for example in street photography – to take photos of others, with or without them noticing – I do feel awkward doing it myself. And in the rare moments where I do muster up the courage, I am hurried and just ‘shoot from the hip’ and get it over with quickly. With the results being, meh, mediocre, most of the time. Not getting the exposure right, not getting the focus right. And then looking at something that could’ve been a good image with just a slight bit more planning and boldness at going to get that image I had in my mind.

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