When asked how they capture such stunning photos, professional photographers tell the same story: film is cheap. Take a lot of photos with the understanding that you’ll throw almost all of them away. For every masterpiece you see, there were hundreds of photos that weren’t good enough, but it’s better to waste some film than to miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Your opportunity could be right around the corner—you could be on the verge of creating a masterpiece—but only if you keep trying.

Don’t give up. Life is too short to worry about the obstacles in your way.