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 don't have many high-key images. This eroded hillside in Wyoming gave me a chance to try one. What I don't like in the picture:My original vision for this image was as a b/w (left) rather than the color version (above). What I learned:I was stuck on the high-key objective and therefore rejected the color version. It never occurred to me that there could be a high-key color image. I'm still not sure I like the one above better, but it's growing on my while the b/w version just looks weak. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextSome more aggressive processing of the color image seems like the logic next step. |
