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:One of my favorite things to work into a photograph is the wind. After all, wind is the air we breathe; it is life itself. What I don't like in the picture:Capturing the wind in a photograph is not easy. The blown grasses in the above were leaning because of the wind, but the fast shutter speed makes it look like they are not being blown by the wind. Failure. What I learned:Sometimes the best way to include the wind in a photograph is via its remnant effects. The wind-blown coastal trees in the image at left is an example. As I photographed them on this windless day, they are stock still and perfectly sharp. Their growth direction is the result of being constantly blown by and offshore breeze. Which of these two image says "wind" to you — the actually blowing grass stalks or the perfectly still coastal trees? 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI suppose I should also include in the discussion and example of blurry grass caught with a slow shutter speed. I'll have to look to see if I have any shots like that. |
