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:I have no idea what killed this cluster of trees, but they stand there as a sort of lament for the lost forest. What I don't like in the picture:If you look on the left side of the underexposed original above, there is one tree that was closer than the rest and is totally out of focus. In previous workflows, that out-of-focus tree would have ruined this image. What I learned:Generative AI Fill to the rescue! The image is salvaged. I wonder how many other images I have in my Lightroom catalog that I've previously rejected for a similar flaw that could now be rescued with today's processing tools? 2nd Chances: What I might try nextNow that I see it here on my screen, I think I need to eliminate that little pokey in the very lower left corner. |
