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:Beautiful, old cemetery sign in North Dakota. What I don't like in the picture:Nothing actually. It's not bad with those dramatic clouds in the background. However . . . What I learned:Photographs are still things. That's why we call them "still photographs." A still photograph of a still subject makes for a pretty static experience when viewing it. Add life, however, and everything changes. In this case, as I was so carefully composing the above photograph of this cemetery sign, a crow decided that was the perfect place to perch. See how adding a touch of life changes the photograph entirely? 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI have other versions with multiple crows. I should play around with those, too. |
