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:A Chinese antiquities street market. What I don't like in the picture:My first attempt above doesn't give much of a sense of the volume of goods there. And, the tree behind the large statue adds a busyness to it that is distracting. Oh, and the powerline has got to go. What I learned:One of the other photographers was using a near/far wide angle lens composition. I thought it was a great idea. Wish I'd thought of it first. Didn't prevent me, however, from stealing his idea for my own composition. I think I like mine better than his because I prefer the tonal differences between the light and dark statues in my version at left. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextShould I crop a bit off the top? |
