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 line of trees that just begged to be a pano stitch. The Dilemma:How do you make a decision about the aspect ratio of a panorama? There's no limit that are imposted externally, so we can do anything we want. But that requires a decision. What I learned:The one at left is a crop from the huge stitch above. Which is better? I don't have a lot of experience with panorama images, so I'm not sure how to decide. I like the extrodinary length of the one above, but it's so small on screen that the details are lost. I like the one at left, but it doesn't show the extent of this line of trees. Decisions, decisions. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextMaybe I should just settle on a specific aspect ratio and make all my panos fit that dimension? Why? |
