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
Drama in the Sky
Landscape photography is often more about the sky than it is about the land. Nothing worse for a landscape photographer than a bald, featureless sky. This week's set of images are all about using drama in the sky to make the picture.
What I saw that I liked:
The hillside was a great form, but the light was awful for photography.
What I don't like in the picture:
Just about everything in the above. Who'd have thought I could pull something out of that?
What I learned:
Actually, I didn't pull anything out of the above. All I needed to do was wait a minute or so and the light broke through the clouds to illuminate the hillside beautifully. That's the thing about this cloudy days. It's not uncommon for there to be lots of different moments of illumination. These are the days that require a bit of photographic patience. When I know there are going to be clouds like this, I packed a couple extra Thermoses of coffee and a sandwich. I know it might be long day. |
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