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 do love photographing in the fog. What I don't like in the picture:The plague of random searching in the landscape is that many, many times I'll find a subject with unfortunate light or impossible access, OR I'll find great light, easy access but no subject. I love the fog in the above, but the subject is awful. I worked this location for quite a while and never did find an angle for a composition that pleased me. What I learned:Keep looking. Just down the road aways, I found a better composition (left) that allowed me to use that fog. In the cosmic scale of things, great light and access are always better than a great subject you can't get to. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextShould I clone our that little triangle of snow in the very lower right corner? |
