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:Fresh snow is always a reason to pull out the camera. What I don't like in the picture:I liked the idea of the puffs of snow atop the hydrangea (?) blossoms. In the one above, however, the background is getting in the way. A good example of why I say that finding the background is as important as finding the subject. What I learned:The simplicity of images like the one at left are so much easier in snow. Think Michael Kenna in Hokkaido, Japan. (If you aren't familiar with his work, look it up. Wow.) 2nd Chances: What I might try nextThe bunch of stalks near the bottom are not centered horizontally. Should I crop off a bit of the left edge of the photograph to center things? |
