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 photographed this rice harvester in Japan in 1990. What I don't like in the picture:Ever since I first saw this image on my contact sheet, I have regretted that background I chose. In the above image, the background has been softened using an early rendition of Photoshop's Blur tool. The pattern in the brickwork is still too strong. What I learned:The new Lightroom Blur tool, however, has done the trick. I guess it's never too long to wait for the technological answer we need, not even if you have to wait 34 years. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextBased on this image, I think I need a more thorough survey of other images I could "fix" using technology that didn't exist when I captured the image on film or as a digital file. |
