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
Things vs Moments
Photographs can be of things or of moments. Over my five decades as a photographer, I've capture tens of thousands of things, but all of my better images have been of moments. This week I'll try to illustrate this with a few examples.
What I saw that I liked:
The above picture was made at an old, abandoned school gymnasium.
What I don't like in the picture:
I was fascinated by the hardwood floor, a thing without interpretation. This image might be illustrative, but it's certainly not captivating. Another example of recording a thing, but not a moment.
What I learned:
Thing or moment is often completely independent of the time, place, or subject. It's a function of composition which always start with where you choose to stand. In fact, to make the above image I chose a specific place to stand that would not include the illumination from outside. Turning slightly to my left I saw the image of the shadows coming through the window that does a much better job expressing moment while still showing the details of the wood that is the gymnasium floor. Choosing the right place to stand made a picture of the moment. |
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