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
Probably Not, but Maybe Week
This week I've been photographing in eastern Oregon on vacation. This week's theme will be some images that might be useful after b/w processing. All still tentative, all still needing more time to marinate. A look, however, at the immediate response process when we are still filled with initial enthusiasm. We'll see if that positivity survives the passage of time.
What I saw that I liked:
This is Sheep Rock in the John Day fossil unit.
What I don't like in the picture:
This is one that I vacillate on. I like the color image above, but the b/w feels more dramatic to me.
What I learned:
You drive by, pull off to the side of the road, roll down the window, and shoot. Is this cheating? I know this is a place that lots of people photograph, but the light and clouds do help make my image different than others photographed with a bald sky. Luck with the weather is a valuable thing.
2nd Chances: What I might try next
I've decided to present all the images this week as neutral b/w images, but I'm not sure that is the strongest way I'm seeing this. A warm-tone might be a better choice if I ever use this image in a finished project. |
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