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
The Miracles of Technology Week
Enhanced Resolution/Pixel Shifting
I've said for years that this is the best time in the history of photography to be a photographer. This week, I'll share an additional five "failures" that were rescued/improved by the miracles of software.
What I saw that I liked:
Lovely stand of aspen trees in the fall. Would love to have a giant print of this one.
What I don't like in the picture:
My 20 megapixel camera can easily produce prints that are 17" one the long side at 300ppi. If I want to go larger, I have to reduce the ppi — which is doable, but not preferred.
You are gonna have to trust me on this one because I doubt you will be able to see any difference in the down-sized images here, but the one at top is a 20 megapixel capture and the one at left is an 80 megapixel capture using pixel shift technology in the camera.
What I learned:
But now — here in the digital world — I can use the Enhanced Resolution mode to create an image that prints beautifully to 34". In fact, I can do this two ways — in my camera at the time of exposure and in software post-processing. Amazing. |
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