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:This little skiff of snow covering the hillside that had burned a few months earlier. What I don't like in the picture:Actually, I like the one above. But compared to the one at left, it's missing the extra umph that is added by the green patches underneath the trees. What I learned:Even if you capture an image you like, keep looking, keep shooting and you just might find something extra that adds an unexpected element. I did increase the saturation on the green/yellow in the image at left, but not by much. Going too far would have ruined the believability of the image. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI have more from this hillside. I need to determine what else is possible from this collection of images. |
