Brooks Jensen Arts


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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What I saw that I liked:

The broom and the round doorway. How Chinese!

What I don't like in the picture:

Fortunately, I chimped this one and immediately recognized that my eye was completely drawn to the view on the other side of the doorway — those red colums that are in a little brighter light than the broom.

What I learned:

Whack! The doorway is a visual framing device, so I used it to make the image at left. I had to let go of the broom, but the addition of some sunlight on the building seen through the doorway made this one almost easy.

2nd Chances: What I might try next

It might be possible to salvage the broom photo by darkening everything on the far side of the door, but I'm not sure this weak composition is worth the effort.