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'm not a mountaineer, but do understand their pull on our heartstrings. What I don't like in the picture:I thought the above would be a "balanced" image by placing the mountain (Mt. Adams in Washington state) on the center, trees protruding into the sky on either side. What I actually created is a boring dud of a photograph. What I learned:Fortunately, the road continued, so we took it. As we got closer to the right side of the mountain, its rocky details came within reach of my lens. I wouldn't say this is a great photograph, but it is at least better than the static one above. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextWhat if I were to clone out the two trees that poke up into the sky? Easy enough to do with Generative Fill. |
