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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Both Orientations

It seems like any given scene would be best as either a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation image, but not both. Even so, having both can provide options in the finished project that might be important.

What I saw that I liked:

Winter trees are among my favorite subjects.

The Portrait Orientation Version:

Nice, but those branches poking in from the right are jarring. Maybe that tree in the lower right corner has to go, too. An OK shot, but not imposing.

The Landscape Orientation Version:

Now we have a balance and a relationship. Three sisters sort of thing. I particularly like the light on the right-hand tree. This version is the one I'm more likely to use, but you never know.