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
What I saw that I liked:That tree on the horizon line is a thrill. What I don't like in the picture:The above "straight capture" is an accurate rendition of the visual scene, but doesn't draw our eye to that tree as I'd like. What I learned:Converting to b/w and enhancing that cloud helps direct our attention to the tiny tree that is the subject in this image at left. Normally, the subject is the largest thing in the composition — not always, but more often than not. This image illustrates that this can be turned on its head with a little care in processing. That tiny tree just commands our attention. Part of that is the result of positioning and part of that is the contrast between the black of the tree and the gray of the sky. This is an image that really needs to be b/w. |
