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
Wow! Post #1500 in this series!
What I saw that I liked:This image is all about the copper color in those fallen fall leaves. What I don't like in the picture:The version above is a great background, but there is no subject! That said, I prefer to think about relationships rather than subjects/backgrounds. What I learned:I've preached for years that photography is about relationships. The image at left illustrates this principle very well. Compared to the above, the version at left is about the relationship between the copper colored leaves and the bark of the fallen birch tree limbs. Look for relationships and you can't go wrong. |
