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:Often, when it comes to abstracts, I have no idea what attracts me to photograph. See, click, question later. What I don't like in the picture:I've repeatedly said in these commentaries that photography is about relationships. The relationship that counts in this image is the far left and far right white bits of paint. What I learned:Long after I captured this RAW image, I realized that round glob to the left reminded me of the sun. Funny how image ideas can bubble up to the surface just long enough to influence us to make the exposure and then need years or decades to make another appearance. Once the "sun" idea came to mind, the cropping to eliminate the superfluous came instantly. |
