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:These seagulls were all waiting out a drippy, windy morning on the rocks at the water's edge. I nice shot, even if a bit kitch. What I don't like in the picture:I didn't stop down quite enough, so the seagulls at the top and bottom of the frame are not quite in focus. What I learned:As the Boy Scouts advise us, BE PREPARED! Something spooked the birds and they took off en masse. I quickly dialed in a 1/15th second shutter speed and got of a few of them flying. Note in this pair the complete difference in mood. The one above is static; the one at left is frenetic. Each image will have its own use in a project, perhaps even in the same project. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextOne other comment about the one at left. To get the 1/15th second shutter, I needed to stop down to f/22. This created no less than 51 dust spots I had to heal out of this image. Yikes. Lightroom's "Visualize Spots" feature was a great assist in this. |
