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:Near/far composition. What I don't like in the picture:In the version above, the two objects are too close to the same size. Complication matters, I was too far away for the relative sizes of the two main objects. This was shot at 51mm (102mm eq) and that longish focal length compressed the distances. What I learned:The example at left was photographed on the same day, but I got closer to the near object, shot it at 31mm (62mm eg) and it works much better. I also prefer the slightly off center position of the two objects at left. The one above is a bit static. |
