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:Iconic tree that I'm sure has been photographed a gazillion times. What I don't like in the picture:I was trained as a stills photographer. My reflex is to make a photograph with the best composition I can muster. What I learned:It's so easy to forget that with today's digital tools we can do so much more — like stitched panoramas. The one at left does a much better job of conveying the moment. On this occassion, I had the presence of mind to remember the pano option. This is a stitch of five images and was only nominally more complex than the single image above. It's important to think outside our habits. Important, but not always easy. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextThis would print as a 33" wide pano. I should do that. |
