Brooks Jensen Arts - Every Picture Is a Compromise

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Every Picture is a Compromise
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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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South Dakota Week

On a recent trip, I had a chance to photograph in Custer State Park in South Dakota. I'm not real thrilled at the images I captured there, so an ideal time to discuss a few failures and their possible improvements.

What I saw that I liked:

Couple of trees and a low hill. And clouds.

What I don't like in the picture:

What is this picture really about? If pressed to answer, I'd say it's about the shaft of light on the hill. And that is why this image fails.

What I learned:

If this is about the shaft of light on the hill, then the trees are a distraction. If it is about the trees, then the clouds are a distraction. If it is about the clouds, then the hill is a distraction. Zero for three on this one. Oh, well.

2nd Chances: What I might try next

B/W?