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
Context Week
My predisposition is always first to get closer and reveal the details. There is an intimacy to being close that I like. However, there are times when this habit to zoom in or step closer is a mistake because it removes the context that tells the story. This week will consist of context examples from the Albany Rural and Oakwood Cemeteries in Albany, New York where context is the most important part of the image.
What I saw that I liked:
What a very interesting round building!
What I don't like in the picture:
The above is a picture of a thing. The image at left is a picture of a place.
What I learned:
Both of these images could be successfully used in the right kind of project. Because I was trying to create a "portrait of a place," clearly the shot at left does a better job of that.
2nd Chances: What I might try next
This project from the cemeteries is pushing me toward color images, but this is one I think would be great in b/w. That would leave me with the dilemma of deciding whether or not to do a mixed project with some color images and some b/w ones. |
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