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:I love back lit subjects in nature. What I don't like in the picture:Nature is lovely, but it is not aesthetically educated. Then again, neither is my camera. Just because the camera manufactures have to choose an aspect ratio fo their machines doesn't mean we are stuck with it. What I learned:More and more, I am drawn to panorama formats. The above mess is cleaned up nicely with just a little trimming. Nice when they fall in our laps this easily. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI wonder if that back lit red stem would hold up in a print on matte paper? Guess I won't know until I try it. |
