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:A glowy sheet of plastic — every photographer's dream subject. No? What the heck, as long as I'm working on some pastel abstracts, let's make it three days in a row. What I don't like in the picture:I actually like the above quite a bit. Other than the fact that I'm exploring this pastel abstract theme, I would never have thought to push the treatment of the above to the extreme at left. What I learned:I've often mentioned that there are images buried in our image archives that are hidden from us. The only way to find them is by poking around and trying a lot of unlikely ideas. You never know when you will uncover something with potential. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextDoesn't this look like an iris blossom? |
