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:Here is another example of my failures in Hainan, China. What I don't like in the picture:The shot I love is the one above with the woman looking back at me. Unfortunately (see yesterday's post), it is blurred due to a too-slow shutter speed — 1/15th of a second at a focal length of 14mm. Should have worked. Didn't. Damn. What I learned:The one at left is sharp at 1/30 of a second at the same focal length. Using such slow shutters is hit or miss, hence the strategy discussed here. Unfortunately, there is no way (currently) to fix blurred images caused by camera movement. Maybe in the future. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextToday, given the same opportunity, I am pretty sure I could succeed here. My newer cameras have IBIS that is fantastic, my new wide-angle lens is a full stop faster, and I know the "burst mode" technique. We live, we learn. At least, hopefully we learn. |
