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 thought this curved corner might make an interesting subject. I was wrong. What I don't like in the picture:Most all photographs need a subject. There isn't one in the above. When I saw how it looked on the screen, I knew I needed a subject. What I learned:No subject was handy, so I decided to try a self-portrait. Bad idea. As the saying goes, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. You also can't make a meaningful and psychologically terse self-portrait when your subject looks more like he wants to take a nap. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextPerhaps if I remove the subject and the background I will have a nice, clean, all-white photograph. |
