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:Spring wheat in the Palouse. What I don't like in the picture:I can't think of an example in which getting closer failed to improve the image. The one at left is so much more compelling than the cacophony above. What I learned:These two images, just in case you might be interested, are extracts from a video file. Would you have known that if I didn't tell you? I haven't used this technique very often, but occasionally it's handy to know about. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextThat bright leaf in the lower left corner of the image at left has got to go. |
