Brooks Jensen Arts - Every Picture Is a Compromise

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Every Picture is a Compromise
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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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Sometimes, Just Fix the Obvious

In an ideal world, the image captured in the camera would be perfect and need no processing whatsoever. We do not live in an ideal world. Sometimes, the first step is to fix the obvious.

What I saw that I liked:

The building was tilted so the window was, too.

What I don't like in the picture:

Is the above a window in a tilted building or an unsteady photographer who didn't get things lined up right?

What I learned:

If things are tilting, make sure there is no question about that in the photograph. I rotated the image at left an additional 5° to enhance the leaning angle. Remember that great advice from Goethe, "Boldness has genius in it." If you are going to do it, do it with conviction.