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.
|
Original digital capture
What I saw that I liked:Fall aspens always put on quite a show. What I don't like in the picture:The above has showy aspens all right, but the pines mixed in end up creating a chaos that is incomprehensible. What I learned:Composition (as Edward Weston used to preach) is the simplest way of seeing. That means simplify the chaos to a point of understanding, not necessarily simplicity. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextToo much blue in that upper left corner. It is distracting from the eye-flow pattern encouraged by the branches. |
