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 was fascinated by the textures of these leaves. What I don't like in the picture:The picture, however, overpowers the texture with the vibrant colors. I have not enhanced the color at all in the above capture. What I learned:When I pulled this up on the computer, I immediately realized the wrong thing was dominating the image. A simple choice to convert to b/w so all the attention in now on the textures of the leaves. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI tend to like a warm-tone in my b/w images, especially botanicals. Nonetheless, I wonder how this would render in pure b/w without the warm-tone? |
