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.
|
Original digital capture
What I saw that I liked:From the wooden boat yard in Port Townsend, Washington. What I don't like in the picture:I love photographing patterns. They make lovely abstracts. But the above with it parallel lines is too static. It need to breath a bit of life with variety. What I learned:The image at left does that in two ways. First, are the diagonal lines. In fact, two different directions diagonal lines. And then the touch of shiny metal near the bottom relieves the pattern textually. Pictures often benefit from a bit of pizazz. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextB/W? |
