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'm not sure I've ever seen a ladder that I didn't want to photograph. They create an almost irresistable eye line that jump starts the composition. What I don't like in the picture:Ladders don't make photographs. Backgrounds with ladders make photographs. What I learned:I have so many bad pictures of ladders, I've learned to pay exceptional attention to the background as the make or break of a ladder photograph. Loved the glowing tones of the black painted hull at the shipyard. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextProbably should clone out that little bit of schmutz on the edge of the the top middle. |
