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:Skull on a cabin wall is pretty cliché, but what the heck. What I don't like in the picture:"Here's a thing." So what? What I learned:There is a fine line between including too much in the composition and including too little. Too much and it can be overwhelming and confusing; too little and it's just a thing. The second image at left is better, but not a winner. I'd probably want to clone out that sign next to the front door. And although I like the moon showing up in the sky just before sunset, in this day of Photoshop it looks sort of fake. It isn't, but I can't help wondering. Adobe has changed the way we look at images. They are less trustworthy than in previous generations. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextClone out the sign and the moon and see if that is actually better. |
