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:That shaft of light on the rocks. What I don't like in the picture:Like the image I was discussing yesterday, here again patience is a virtue. What I learned:Landscapes don't move. Light does. I could see that shaft of light was coming down the hill. I was lucky enough that it crept right down to the perfect spot for my composition. Only 94 seconds separate these two shots. This kind of thing happens so often that it has become a bit of a habit with me. I always wait a few minutes after each shot just to see what happens to the light, the wind, the clouds, or sometimes my sensibilities. This is one of the fun lessons from reviewing my Lightroom catalog. I am sure there are times when speed is important; there are far more times when just hanging out for a bit is rewarding. |
