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:Every instant of flowing water is a potential picture. I believe that wholeheartedly. What I don't like in the picture:Water is reflective and isn't always reflecting tones that are attractive. Yucky gray can be the result. What I learned:That't why we have photographic processing tools that allow us to manufacture tones that please our eye. The one at left is a hyped-up contrast image from the same time and place as the above. Funny, but I rarely find that an image improves by lowering its contrast. Is this just a convention of our times? 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI like the subtle color in this one. Should I crank it up? |
