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
Get Closer WeekAny advice that is supposed to be universal is probably bad advice. That said, I think there are very few pictures that aren't improved by moving closer. This week's examples might help illustrate the wisdom of simply taking a step or two toward the subject, or at least zooming in a bit. What I saw that I liked:The juxtaposition of the boxing gloves and the flag. What I don't like in the picture:In the first composition above, I felt I needed the entire flag. that distance made the gloves so small that a lot of the detail got lost. What I learned:Do we need to see the stars on the flag to know this is the American flag? I don't think so. Just show enough so the viewer knows what the object is. I also like the way the stitching on the flag now can be seen with the closer composition at left. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextmight be a b/w image, but I'm not sure about whether the flag will read as a flag if the red color is missing. |
