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:Lovely light on these grasses. The kind of b/w image I enjoy photographing and processing. What I don't like in the picture:The above version has a preferred diagonal subject. What I learned:Although I like the diagonal above, the background is lifeless. The version at left has a much more interesting background, but I had to work at it a bit to find a geometry of the grasses that I like. Overall, the one at left is a better photograph (IMHO) because it succeeds both with the foreground grasses and the livelier background. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextWould the "sky replacement" tool work on the above? |
