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 can't begin to count the number of images I have that are a "wall of trees." No idea why, but I just love this scene. What I don't like in the picture:The above doesn't quite get there. It's not really a wall of trees, but instead is a few trees in front of some more trees. Ho-hum. What I learned:The best images I have of a wall of trees all are when the trees are on a hillside and I'm photographing them from across a ravine on the opposite hill — like the one at left. I generally find this compositional idea works best for my eye when the image is b/w. Getting the whites just right is a key. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI might need to warm-tone this image. |
