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.
|
Original digital capture
What I saw that I liked:Shadows are always fun. What I don't like in the picture:We've all seen the above image many times before. I'll be you've all made this image before. Leaf shadows on a white church exterior with a window. Fun, but certainly not innovative. What I learned:Right around the corner of the building, I saw this shadow. I love the diagonal, but it took me a minute to decipher what I was seeing. It's a terminated electrical wire with those plastic caps covering the ends of the wires. Is it a great photograph? Nope. But it was fun to see something new and make an image I've never made (or seen) before. |
