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:I can't say the above is a great picture, but it's certainly ok. I can't say the one at left is a great picture, but it's ok. Hmmmm.... What I don't like in the picture:The above is context; the left image is the detail of interest. Either by themselves is incomplete. What I learned:This is a good example of a small, multi-image project that requires more than one image to really tell the story. In fact, this could require half a dozen or more images of details to complete what the above image sets in motion. In fact, I have 9 images from this one room that tell a story. Grid, anyone? 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI could also see this as a chapbook with 8 or so images. |
