Every Picture Is a Compromise
Lessons from the Also-rans
Most photography websites show the photographer's very best work. Wonderful. But that's not the full story of a creative life. If we want to learn, we'd better pay attention to the images that aren't "greatest hits" and see what lessons they have to offer. Every picture is a compromise — the sum of its parts, optical, technical, visual, emotional, and even cosmic – well, maybe not cosmic, but sometimes spiritual. Success on all fronts is rare. It's ok to learn from those that are not our best.
This is a series about my also-rans, some of which I've been able to improve at bit (i.e., "best effort"), none of which I would consider my best. With each there are lessons worth sharing, so I will.
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Original digital capture
What I saw that I liked:A rainy night at an outdoor Chinese market in Hangzhou. What I don't like in the picture:I thought I'd try to catch the fun reflections and patterns in the sidewalks. The one above was the first, taken in early dusk. It's ok at 1/60th sec, but the top edge is less than idea. About an hour later I found some more patches of sidewalk I thought I'd try . . . What I learned:. . . but it was much darker and half-second exposures were beyond my (and the camera's) capability. I have about 30 of these, all out of focus. Live and learn. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextAt least I discovered the limits of that camera to be handheld. |
