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
Fall Colors in B/W
Admittedly, few subjects in photography are more beloved than the annual forest extravaganza of fall colors. It may not be obvious, but that pertains to us b/w folks, too! This week will present five examples where beautiful colors also can make beautiful b/w renditions.
What I saw that I liked:
There are three distinct elements in this image. Love it.
What I see in the color picture:
In the color version, the color overwhelms the tree trunks near the bottom of the image. In this composition, those trunks are a full third of the image and need to pop out more. Same with the rounded cluster of pines near the top. They are just sort of a black blog in the color version, but have detail in the b/w version.
What I see in the b/w version:
Color and detail are two ways of seeing an image. Not surprisingly, color is seen as color detail whereas b/w is seen as detail with tone. I always think detail is more visible in a b/w rendition. Perhaps that's because of the juxtaposition of blacks and whites in a monochrome rendition. |
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