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:Pidgeons!!! (Yet another example of why I'm the world's worst BIF (bird-in-flight) photographer.) What I don't like in the picture:Cropping to this degree is another way of admitting you didn't do it right in the field. What you don't see here is that, using burst mode, I shot 643 exposures of this flock of pidgeons as they surrounded me. Can you believe that out of 643 exposures, this is the best one? No kidding. Man, am I bad at this. What I learned:Everytime I attempt BIF photography, I am reminded how good those photographers are who succeed at this. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI guess it's time for me to admit that the world does not need me to make any more BIF images. If it wasn't so fun in the attempt, I'd officially retire from this kind of photography. |
