When you photograph what you see, you lose sight of the picture.
To me there is no perfect picture, looking close up one often loses sight of the full picture becoming enthralled with with beauty before the lens. Perhaps photography taken in dark resonates in not able to define all detail, finding little hidden gems later.
Lens is a friend, an extension of ones sight which takes time to learn to balance in various lighting, simple enjoyment takes me along this path.
Personally I feel the whole camera is an extension of the photographer. Once the photographer can immerse themselves in their own sense of space... magic starts to happen but for me that immersion can only truly start once one grasps the truth of my foundational statement.
Being outdoors with a camera is relaxing to enjoy nature, I never do human portraits or professional, mine is purely for pleasure.