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:Sometimes it's just the pattern that is eye-catching. What I don't like in the picture:We were on our way to a temple in Beijing and passed this high-rise. While we were stopped at a traffic light, I rolled down the window and grabbed a quick snap. I didn't think much about it until . . . What I learned:. . . we arrived at the temple and I saw this giant bell with calligraphy on the side. I instantly thought of the building I'd just photographed minutes earlier. The patterns are the same. That said, I haven't figured out what to do with either of them yet. So far, they are just a curiosity in my afternoon in Beijing. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextIt could be funny to clone the two light poles and superimpose them on the calligraphy. |
