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.
|
Original digital capture
What I saw that I liked:These red "booming life" lanterns are everywhere and just begged to be photographed. What I don't like in the picture:Cluttered background. I have to confess that I was surprised when I got back home and saw how chaotic this image is. I literally didn't see all that clutter in the background, but the camera did. What I learned:The above image was from 2012 and I learned. I knew that if I was ever in China again, I'd concentrate on isolating the red lanterns against a backgound that wouldn't compete. The one at left was photographed in 2019 and I finally accomplished what I wanted. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI have a lot of shots of these red lanterns. This needs to be a mini-project. |
