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:These are salt deposits that leach out of the cement wall. What I don't like in the picture:The shapes are fun, but the tones lack drama. What I learned:When in the field, I've learned to separate my approach to the shapes from the tones in the substance. I can always change the tones in processing to make a more dramatic sense of light. Example at left. Maybe this isn't the greatest abstract I've ever done, but it sure beats the anemic one above. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextMore dark vignetting in the corners? |
