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:The old guy in rural China wearing an NBA stocking cap. What I don't like in the picture:Clearly, I know nothing about flash photography. It was dark in his room, so I popped on my flash unit and snapped away. It's embarrassing. What I learned:Don't use flash until I learn how to use it. Even though the one at left was shot at 1/6th of a second and is slightly blurred, it's better than that monstrosity above. |
