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
Palouse Panorama Week
The region known as "The Palouse" in southeast Washington state has become a kind of mecca for photographers in recent years. A major wheat farming area, the Palouse offers all kinds of fascinating patterns and colors for photographers to explore. I always seem to gravitate to panorama format images, which will be the topic of images this week.
What I saw that I liked:
Pattern and textures. I'm not a farmer, but I could easily see them having fun creating these tracks and patterns in the wheat stubble.
What I don't like in the picture:
Again, in the above we see a flat light that is soft and needs some punch.
What I learned:
A touch (not too much!) of DeHaze helps with these images. I could spend days atop Steptoe Butte looking down on these patterns and compositing images for panoramas. In fact, I have.
2nd Chances: What I might try next
I suppose I should play around a bit with some b/w images, but I just find the golden color so appealing. |
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