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:Stark branches against the backdrop of desert rock. What I don't like in the picture:In spite of the fact that I shot this one (above) at f/11 (which would be the eq of f/22 on a full frame camera), the tree is still slightly out of focus. I should have tried focusing on the tree to see if f/11 would keep the rocks in focus, but I didn't. What I learned:Depth of field is mathematics and I should have used my DOF app to find the correct numbers. Fortunately, there was another example just down the road that I got right. It helps that the wall and tree were closer to each other. The one at left was shot at f/10. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI wasn't very careful with my alignment. I wish that uppermost left branch didn't merge with the line in the rock, and the lower right branch merge with the tree in the background. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. I'll blame it on the 106° temperature, but I doubt you'll forgive me. Or should. If I were really, really careful, could I clone out the line and the tree? |
