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 is my shot of famous Shiprock, New Mexico. What I don't like in the picture:It's a picture of Shiprock, New Mexico. Yes, I'm stubborn:If it's a famous place with famous photographs by famous photographers, I'm probably just going to drive past it. (In this case, I need to grab a cold drink from the cooler in the back, so why not prove I was there.) The world doesn't need me to add to the plethora of Shiprock photos. I much prefer to find my own subjects of interest. Besides, this day was hot, hazy, and I had a long way to drive. Forcing creativity when your soul doesn't feel it is generally a good way to make really bad photographs. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextIf I'd had a 100 megapixel camera, could I have cropped in enough to make a frame-filling composition out of the above? |
