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:Everything in Japan is cute and photographable. I'm just sayin'. What I don't like in the picture:Here's a question for you. Do you prefer the contextual view seen above? Or, do you prefer the closer, detailed view seen at left? What I learned:We each have what I like to call a "natural vision." Some people see wide angle context; others see long focal length details. These are both correct views. They may not be both natural views for how you tend to see the world. I'm a long focal length, look-at-the=details guy. It's not that I don't shoot wide angle context shots, it's just that they don't come to me easily. I have to work a bit more carefully and fail more often. Like the image above. Not even a contest for my eye. And I find in the field this is a common event for me — photograph a context shot, then move in for the details. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextCould this be a b/w image? |
