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.
Previous image | Next image |
Original digital capture
What I saw that I liked:Angry skies. Okay, I am probably projecting here, but at the time I felt like I was about to be pummeled with some severe weather. Actually, I was. What I don't like in the picture:This picture is not about the clouds, but rather about how the clouds are about to burst down onto the landscape. the dark land form in the above diminishes this relationship. What I learned:I did two things to this RAW capture. First, I brought up the shadows to reveal a little detail in the trees. Then I converted the sky to a desaturated neutral gray. That's about it. |
