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
Mountains from Your Car Week
I know photographers whose sole subject matter are mountains — and their masterful efforts are breathtaking. I love the mountains as much as anyone else, as long as I can access them from the highway (my backpacking days are over). This week will be mountains from the comfort of your car.
What I saw that I liked:
A wonderful drive in the North Cascades of Washington state.
What I don't like in the picture:
My reflexive composition in the above was to include the mountain peaks. That what we are supposed to do with mountain picture. The above, however, is a pretty awful photograph for several reasons.
What I learned:
Mountains are vertical, sometime scary, often dangerous, and intimidating. Somehow, none of that comes across in the above image. Instead, by isolating the snowy rock wall in the image at left, all of the emotions of the danger of the mountains comes through in the picture. Beauty and hazard in the same view. |
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