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:Beautifully intricate umbrella over a patio table at the Portland Japanese Garden. What I don't like in the picture:The first composition above is as close to perfectly centered as I could get. I generally don't like centered images, but sometimes they are great. This one is okay, but a little static. What I learned:A slightly different angle and a landscape orientation composition brings a sense of movement to this image that I prefer. It also allows all those details of the weave to be more visible, down to the tiny details at the base. 2nd Chances: What I might try nextI used a slight vignette to darken the corners. I might need to print this one to get that vignette just right. |
