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:A street vendor selling hot noodles by the side of the road. What I don't like in the picture:Repeat after me a thousand times, "Photography is about life, not about things." I thought the above was going to be the winner of the moment. It's a nice image, but perfectly lifeless. What I learned:The image at left is a little blured and maybe doesn't have that glow of the image above, but it's alive. Repeat after me a thousand times, "Photography is about life, not about things." 2nd Chances: What I might try nextBTW, this was shot at 1/15th second and the hand is tack sharp. Luck helps. |
