Day 11/365: Abstract and Angles – When Mistakes Become the Shot
85 Tower, Kaohsiung | Leica D-Lux 8
Day 11 is about happy accidents—the kind that happen when you forget to check your settings and accidentally shoot at 1/4 of a second. Add unintentional touch screen adjustments, and you end up with a series of highly abstract images you never planned to create.
This shot captures a person passing by near 85 Tower, framed from a low angle with the iconic skyscraper looming in the background. The motion blur from the slow shutter speed transforms the subject into a ghostly presence, while the urban architecture remains sharp and imposing.
The Mistake
I didn't check my settings before shooting. The Leica was set to 1/4 second—far too slow for handheld street photography. I also didn't realize I'd been experimenting with the rear touch screen settings, which led to a series of frames I didn't even know I was taking.
The result? A collection of abstract, motion-blurred images that push the boundaries of what I'd normally consider "usable."
When Mistakes Work
Photography mistakes fall into two categories: the ones that ruin the shot, and the ones that create something you wouldn't have tried otherwise. Day 11 falls into the second category.
The slow shutter speed forced motion into the frame. The low angle added drama. The accidental touch screen adjustments introduced unpredictability. Together, these "errors" produced images that feel experimental and intentional, even though they weren't.
The Creative Lesson
Sometimes the best creative decisions are the ones you don't make. When you remove intention and let technical mistakes guide the process, you end up in territory you wouldn't have explored on your own.
This doesn't mean you should shoot carelessly—but it does mean that when mistakes happen, you should look at the results before deleting them. Some of the most interesting work comes from accidents.
Technical Details
Camera: Leica D-Lux 8
Shutter Speed: 1/4 second (unintentional)
Approach: Low angle, motion blur, accidental abstraction
Lesson: Check your settings. Or don't. See what happens.
Gear: Leica D-Lux 8
Location: 85 Tower, Kaohsiung
Project: 011/365