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:In Albany and Troy, New York are some really old and wonderful cemeteries. I was spellbound. What I don't like in the picture:At first, the statuary was simply overwhelming. I have lots of shots like the one above — a picture of a statue. After about a hundred of these, I realized they were sort of boring. I had been sucked into that deadly "cataloging" approach that never leads to interesting artwork. What I learned:Next, I tried to use the headstones and statuary the same way I would a rock in a forest landscape. Cemeteries as landscape? The one at left is an example. I wish it worked, but it doesn't. Still looks like a cemetery. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI'm now waiting for a big snowfall that might disguise things under the snow and provide some minimalist compositions without screaming "CEMETERY!" This is still a work in progress — or at least an attempt in progress. |
