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've now photographed this hillside just south of John Day, Oregon on five different occasions with five different weather patterns. The Three Versions:I like all three versions. The one at top is in late fall and shows the effects of a bug infestation. The one below that is in late fall after a forest fire. The one at left is in early summer after another fire season. What I learned:Locations are never unique. Time changes, weather changes, stuff happens. Go back and keep working. You may find a long-term project that will require your patience, but offer rewards and wisdom you did not anticipate. |
