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
7mm - Ultra-wide Angle Week
This week is all about ultra-wide angle lens use. I have the Panasonic 7-14mm lens for my m4/3 cameras. (Think 14-28mm for you full framers out there.) These ultra-wides are tricky. Every image this week was shot at 7mm focal length. Here are a few things I've learned about using this exotic lens.
What I saw that I liked:
A really fun and well preserved prairie school in North Dakota.
What I don't like in the picture:
One characteristic of ultra-wide focal lengths is that they pull our eye to the center of the frame. That's okay if the center has something of interest, but in the above the center is just a clutter of things too small to see.
What I learned:
The image at left is ideal for an ultra-wide because of the dominant subject (the flag) in the center of the composition. The handrails on either side add perspective and point us up the stairs right to that flag.
2nd Chances: What I might try next
Side comment: The colors in this original capture were stomach-turning green. I avoided this image for ages until one day it dawned on my that I could push those awful colors around to something less revolting. The new colors see at left salvaged an image I've been tempted for years to toss out. |
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