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
Mud and Muck WeekWhat I saw that I liked:The above is one of the rejects from my project Worlds Within Worlds. Just because it's a reject from a project doesn't mean it's a total loss. What I don't like in the picture:For very questionable reasons, I shot this at 16:9 aspect ratio. It's gray. It's muck. What I learned:I remember someone once said, "It's not what you take, it's what you make that counts." Hmmm. . . 2nd Chances: What I might try nextNot sure how this image will translate into your browser color space, but on my monitor, it's quite golden. I hope it is in yours, too. |
