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:
Light house on the Oregon coast.
What I don't like in the picture:
I chose to use these two examples because they are of the same lighthouse from two different standing positions. The above is from right at the base looking up. The one at left is from a dozen yards away.
What I learned:
The resulting visual image from an ultra-wide can often look very, well, not ultra-wide. I would never look at the image at left and think it was shot at 7mm. In fact, I was surprised when this image popped up in Lightroom when I did a filter for shots made at 7mm. I started this week by saying that ultra-wides are tricky and this is a great example of that. With the right subject and careful camera alignment, an ultra-wide doesn't scream ULTRA-WIDE!!! When it's the right lens, used in the right way, it sure can be fun. |
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