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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All About the Numbers Week
When it comes to composition, numbers play an important role that designers know all about. Photographers need this same knowledge when it comes to composition. This week we'll look at numbers and composition.
Original digital capture
What I saw that I liked:
I kinda like the image above for its calm and contemplative mood.
What I don't like in the picture:
The above is, however, and example of how a bilaterally symmetric image helps create that calm and contemplative mood. Sometimes that's what we want and this is the kind of composition that enhances the minimalist tranquility.
What I learned:
Adding more elements like we see in the image at left, pushes us to find visual balance. I often think of this as a visual teeter totter. Size and distance to the vertical mid-line is what creates balance between all the objects in the composition. The more elements to balance, the trickier it becomes to get them positioned just right. This example is fairly balanced, but not ideal. I use it here only and an example to illustrate my point.
2nd Chances: What I might try next
I need to go back there and try again. Now that I've seen the results from the first trip, I know better what I would need to look for in a revisit of this tidal slough. |
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