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
Olana Failures and Recoveries
In the January 2026 issue of Kokoro, I presented images from the Olana historical site. It was a fascinating and fun place to photograph. Notice I did not say it was easy. This week, I'll show 5 images that were total failures and compare them to ones that made it into the final PDF.
What I saw that I liked:
I'm always looking for corners in any architectural subject. They automatically introduce a three-dimensional point of view.
What I don't like in the picture:
There are limits to all technologies. At the time I made this picture, I was hoping to use AI Removal to get rid of the daybed. It didn't work. As luck would have it, I have the one at left that is a different corner but essentially the same shot I was going for in the above.
What I learned:
This is a good example of why it is so important to pay attention to the edges. I use the Transform Tool to rectify the verticals in this handheld shot. They were close, but just converging enough to be bothersome.
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