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:I was attracted to the bright grasses against the shadow behind them. What I don't like in the picture:For some reason, I felt I needed to make this more than just grasses against a shadow. I did a pano stitch. That wasn't any better. So I added a sky replacement. Uh, oh. What I learned:Sometimes excessively working an image can result in a mess. Let's call this "lipstick on a pig" syndrome. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextDelete these images from my harddrive. Then take and ax to the harddrive. Then melt it into a fishing weight. And toss it in salt water. Amen. |
