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:Waterfall — no one has ever done that before. What I don't like in the picture:As a matter of personal preference, I'm not crazy about pictures of things. They are often too descriptive and static. What I learned:Compare the picture of the "waterfall" above to the scene at left — that happens to have a waterfall in it. I much prefer the composition at left because of the circle — from waterfall to rock in the lower right, then follow the tree around the top and back to the waterfall. Describing it makes it a bit too literal, but it is the way I find myself looking at this image. It's alive with movement, both literally and compositionally. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextShould I crop half an inch or so off the top? |
