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
Overlooked Week
For some time now, I've advocated mining our Lightroom catalog for forgotten and overlooked gems. This week will include successful images that pulled my attention away from other images that have remained hidden gems — but have recently been rediscovered.
What I saw that I liked:
Again in China, this time at the Lama Temple in Beijing. I used the version of this lion dog seen above in a project titled, Protection from Evil in Kokoro, Vol. 6, No. 3 June 2020. I chose to use the image above because in Chinese culture these "lion-dogs" are protectors — fierce, but good for us humans.
What I uncovered in my archives:
The image at left is of the same statue as above. A change of angle, however, makes this guy seem so much more threatening. His teeth are menacing and his eyes are closer to staring us down. This angle doesn't persuade me that he is a good guy, so I didn't use it in the project. Then I forgot all about it. Looking at it now, some 8 years later, I think it is actually a better image than the above. Now I just need a place to use it.
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