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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Personally Expressive Week
This week we'll look at pairs of images from the same locations — one made by my friend Joe Lipka and the other by me. We each have our own vision and aesthetic. Said another way, in art there are no right or wrong answers. There are, however, personal expressions that can be true to your own vision and your honest response to the world. Brooks' image
Joe's image
Things to notice:
This might be starting to sound like a broken record, but here again it is easy to see how each of us has our own way of seeing and responding to the world. What do you want your images to accomplish? Is it more important to reveal details a bit more intimately or do you prefer context and broader relationships? There is no right answer, but making a conscious decision about such issues can clarify you approach to almost any subject.
This pair also shows a practicality of image processing decisions. Both of us thought the original color rendition by the camera was unacceptable because of the odd color of the lights in this room. Joe chose to eliminate the odd color by converting to b/w. I chose to modify the color balance to something more pleasing. Here again, neither is right or wrong, but simply a matter of how you choose to present the world you experience.
Visit Joe's website. |
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