--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Grain is life, there's all this striving…" description: "\"Grain is life, there's all this striving for perfection with digital stuff. Striving is fine, but getting there is not great. I want a sense of the hum..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/anton-corbijn-8467_breathe_grain-is-life-there-s-all-this-striving_1329297.jpg" --- # Grain is life, there's all this striving for perfection… ![“Grain is life, there's all this striving for perfection with digital stuff. Striving is fine, but getting there is not great. I want a sense of the human and that is what breathes life into a picture. For me, imperfection is perfection.” quote by Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/anton-corbijn-8467_breathe_grain-is-life-there-s-all-this-striving_1329297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/anton-corbijn-8467_breathe_grain-is-life-there-s-all-this-striving_1329297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/anton-corbijn-8467_breathe_grain-is-life-there-s-all-this-striving_1329297.jpg) > “Grain is life, there's all this striving for perfection with digital stuff. Striving is fine, but getting there is not great. I want a sense of the human and that is what breathes life into a picture. For me, imperfection is perfection.” [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embracing flaws gives images authenticity, making them feel alive and human. **In simple terms:** Imperfection adds life to art. Key Takeaway Value authenticity over technical perfection. Themes authenticity imperfection creativity Mood reflective inspired Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - portrait photography - digital editing - artistic direction Key Concepts humanism aesthetic theory Questions to Reflect On - How does embracing imperfection affect your creative process? - What aspects of a photo can remain technically perfect while feeling human? A Different Perspective Perfection can still be pursued in composition and lighting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathe/) [Digital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digital/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Grain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grain/) [Grain Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grain-life-4455153/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Imperfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfection/) [Imperfection Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfection-perfection-421274/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Picture Imperfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture-imperfection-4455154/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Striving for perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striving-for-perfection/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Your desire for perfection is the cause of anger. Leave room for imperfection. Perfection in action is almost impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/your-desire-for-perfection-is-the-cause-of-anger-leave-room-for/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [It is imperfection - not perfection - that is the end result of the program written into that formidably complex engine that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-levi-montalcini/it-is-imperfection-not-perfection-that-is-the-end-result-of-the/) [Rita Levi-Montalcini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-levi-montalcini/) > [Everything is already perfect. And if you can accept that everything is already perfect, the imperfection is a part of the perfection. What's to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/everything-is-already-perfect-and-if-you-can-accept-that-everything/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Prioritize imperfection, then perfection will follow you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shihab-kazi/prioritize-imperfection-then-perfection-will-follow-you/) [Shihab Kazi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shihab-kazi/) > [“Maybe happiness lies in imperfection more than perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketan-bhagat/maybe-happiness-lies-in-imperfection-more-than-perfection/) [Ketan Bhagat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketan-bhagat/) > [My best features are the little imperfections that maybe only I know about. I have this little bump on my nose which I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-simpson/my-best-features-are-the-little-imperfections-that-maybe-only-i-know/) [Jessica Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-simpson/) > [The world is evolving from imperfection to perfection. It needs all love and sympathy; great tenderness and watchfulness are required from each one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-world-is-evolving-from-imperfection-to-perfection-it-needs-all/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Imperfection is perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/imperfection-is-perfection/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > [I don’t crop my images and I always shoot handheld. By doing that I build in a kind of imperfection and this helps to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-don-t-crop-my-images-and-i-always-shoot-handheld-by-doing-that-i/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [Being flawed is the perfect recipe for beauty for nothing in nature is perfect. Striving for perfection will lead you down a dark and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-lee-beckwith-powell/being-flawed-is-the-perfect-recipe-for-beauty-for-nothing-in-nature/) [Rosa-Lee Beckwith-Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-lee-beckwith-powell/) > [Striving for excellence is a positive quality. Striving for perfection is self-defeating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/striving-for-excellence-is-a-positive-quality-striving-for-perfection/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [I probably do have an obsessive personality, but striving for perfection has served me well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/i-probably-do-have-an-obsessive-personality-but-striving-for/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [It says no one is perfect. BUT I find it V mst eep striving for perfection becoz somewhere thru the journey V achieved excellence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nickz/it-says-no-one-is-perfect-but-i-find-it-v-mst-eep-striving-for/) [Nickz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nickz/) > [We are beautifully imperfect beings, operating in a very imperfect world, and that is just the way it is meant to be. Striving for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/we-are-beautifully-imperfect-beings-operating-in-a-very-imperfect/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“We must have the courage to be imperfect while striving for perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-t-holland/we-must-have-the-courage-to-be-imperfect-while-striving-for-perfection/) [Patricia T. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-t-holland/) ## More by Anton Corbijn > [I don't think I treat my film work as an extension of my photography. There are two different sets of rules there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-don-t-think-i-treat-my-film-work-as-an-extension-of-my-photography/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I think if you don't feel passionate about the first movie you're doing, in the end the project will lack something because you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-think-if-you-don-t-feel-passionate-about-the-first-movie-you-re/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I feel that when I shoot anything, and I have something beautiful, I just move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-feel-that-when-i-shoot-anything-and-i-have-something-beautiful-i/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I've done an incredible amount of painters. It's an area, for me, where there's more mystery left. I've photographed so many musicians, I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-ve-done-an-incredible-amount-of-painters-it-s-an-area-for-me-where/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [By self-analysis you can not change your character, but you may change your mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/by-self-analysis-you-can-not-change-your-character-but-you-may-change/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [Directing film is the hardest thing I have ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/directing-film-is-the-hardest-thing-i-have-ever-done/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I don’t crop my images and I always shoot handheld. By doing that I build in a kind of imperfection and this helps to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-don-t-crop-my-images-and-i-always-shoot-handheld-by-doing-that-i/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I don't have lights, I don't have assistants, I just go and meet somebody and take a photograph. That's really basic, and that's how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-don-t-have-lights-i-don-t-have-assistants-i-just-go-and-meet/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I am a village boy, and Amsterdam for me was always the big town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-am-a-village-boy-and-amsterdam-for-me-was-always-the-big-town/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I've gotten used to not looking too far into the future; it's best when you can begin each day anew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-ve-gotten-used-to-not-looking-too-far-into-the-future-it-s-best/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I work using the Brian Eno school of thinking: limit your tools, focus on one thing and just make it work… You become very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-work-using-the-brian-eno-school-of-thinking-limit-your-tools-focus/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I wanted to do a film for a while, but I never found a script that I felt I was going to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-wanted-to-do-a-film-for-a-while-but-i-never-found-a-script-that-i/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I wanted to move away from Holland for my work because I felt that things would be better for me in England. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-wanted-to-move-away-from-holland-for-my-work-because-i-felt-that/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I wanted to make a film as an artist, and it's going to have to find an audience, you know. I don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-wanted-to-make-a-film-as-an-artist-and-it-s-going-to-have-to-find/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [I had no agent, and I was getting approached by so many people that I tried to escape for a while because I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-had-no-agent-and-i-was-getting-approached-by-so-many-people-that-i/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) [Explore all 80 Anton Corbijn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) ## More Breathe quotes > [“Well come and stand a little bit closer, breathe in and get a bit higher. 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Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. 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