f/8 And Don’t Be Late!

“f/8 and be there” — the old photographer’s mantra. I paraphrased this expression into the title of today’s post – f/8 and don’t be late” – but the spirit is the same. And, it sounds better with a rhyme don’t you agree? This saying is commonly associated with Arthur Fellig, the hard-boiled New York photojournalist who thrived on immediacy over perfection.

At its core, it’s less about aperture and more about philosophy:

• f/8: a safe, middle-ground setting—sharp, reliable, enough depth of field to get the shot.
• Be there: the real variable isn’t technical—it’s presence, timing, awareness.

“Resolve enough to act. Then act in time.”

In other words, a technically perfect photograph that never gets taken is worthless. A slightly imperfect one that captures the moment is everything. It’s a rejection of overthinking. A push against paralysis by settings, gear, or theory. It aligns with what I was getting at in the In Defense Of f/16 article posted here—the idea that rules are scaffolding, not shackles.

Translated into the context of my broader art and design language, it becomes something like:

“Resolve enough to act. Then act in time.”

This mantra, born from photography, endures because it’s not really about photography—it’s about a decisive engagement with reality. This suggests something far more active—and far more philosophical—than simple image-making. It frames photography not as passive recording, but as an intentional act of confrontation, selection, and commitment.