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:An alleyway in a Hutong neighborhood in Beijing, China. What I don't like in the picture:On balance, I'm statistically more of a photographer of things rather than people. I wish this weren't the case. I often find people far more interesting that things. What I learned:The next alleyway after the bicycles was reward for walking down this street. She is being groomed for some sort of special event. Our translator thought she might be a bridesmaid. Not sure, but she is a lot more interesting than a couple of bikes. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI wish I'd had a different lens. This image was shot at f/6.3 with a m4/3 camera, so the equivalent of f/12 and a pretty deep depth of field. I wasn't prepared for a street portrait. Maybe this is a great example of the value of a two-camera strategy. |
