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
Potential Project Ideas Week
I'm on a two-month long trip to the West coast to do some photography and a couple of presentations. This week, I'll explore some potential projects from my first couple of weeks on the road.
What I saw that I liked:
I first drove past this old church in 2003. The image above was one of three I made that trip before the mosquitoes won the battle, won the war, won the cosmic dominance.
What I don't like in the picture:
The problem with abandoned structures like this is that without access to the inside, the pictures become essentially about the architecture. I do like the clouds in this one, but that's about all.
Is this a potential project?
One of my goals for this trip is to look for Seeing in SIXES types of projects. This church seem like it might have some potential even though I didn't get inside. If I have six images, I'll be lucky. This one might fall a bit shy. At this location I shot a total of 13 compositions, but there are some duplicates that might limit this as a project. Maybe three-image project?
2nd Chances: What I might try next
Is this a candidate for Sky Replacement? I think maybe so. |
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