Photo Trek

Photo Copyright © 2008 (((Reflections))) Used with permission

As you have read in my previous entry about photographing the lunar eclipse last night, there is a lot to consider in order to get that "perfect" photograph.  I'll be the first to admit that I am always looking for that "perfect" photograph, and I will often go well out of my way to achieve it.  Through my Tips and Tricks, I try to share some of techniques that I have learned since becoming interested in photography which will help achieve the goal of the "perfect" picture.  However, as I was just reminded of, the term perfect is a rather elusive term, and will likely mean something different to each individual.  I would like to thank Michelle from (((Reflections))) who made me stop and think.

The entry that gave me pause for thought was one where she talked about photographing the eclipse last night.  As you can read in the entry, she was upset about how her photographs came out...especially the one that she posted, calling it one of her "worst photos".  This photo appears at the top of the entry, and as you can see there are some problems with it.  Being that this was one of her first attempts of the night, she didn't use the tripod to start with.  You can undoubtedly see the results of that omission.  Technically speaking, this is a "bad" photograph.  Just about everything that could go wrong with it did.

But.....

When I first opened the entry in her journal, it was not an eclipsed moon that I saw (the intended subject).  What I saw was an abstract photograph, that my first instincts told me was a creation in Photoshop.  I saw a very muscular man posed as if preparing to release a bowling ball.  Follow this picture with me if you will.  The arm, in motion appears in the far leftof the frame, the biceps swelling with muscle attach to the pumped up chest leading down to the thin abdomen.  The head is but a shadow, and fades off out of the frame...its not important to the composition anyway.  Can you see what has been created here? It was not done with software...this is as the camera captured it...amazing!

What Michelle has accomplished with this photograph is something that I doubt could ever be duplicated in the same manner.  Sure Photoshop could do something very similar, but that would be cheating...at least in my opinion.  The complexity of this picture, though accidental, is amazing, and most people would have deleted it right away.  Even if they kept it, I know of nobody that would have posted this picture in a public forum thinking that it was as bad as Michelle had convinced herself it was.  To delete it, or hide it would be a crime.

I've seen a lot of Michelle's pictures over the years...some I like more than others, but this one....her "worst" one has got to be my favorite picture of hers.  Actually, after going through different journals today looking at everyone's pictures of the lunar eclipse, this is the only one that stands out.  While everyone else is concentrating on getting that "perfect" shot, they end up duplicating each other with only minor differences.  Michelle has taken a beautiful, but actually a little bit boring of a subject and made it exciting.  This picture forces you to become involved with it...to dig deep into it, just to find out what it is.  Is is a great picture "technically" speaking....no.  Is it an example of photographic art....I really believe that it is.  Is it everyone's taste...probably not.  Is it worth being viewed....I made an entire entry on this, so you know my answer.  I'm glad that this didn't go the way of all my photographic mishaps.

Closing thoughts....

When I saw this picture, I knew that I needed to create an entry around it.  While I talk (probably too much) about what it takes to create a certain image, there is a lot of great images that will be missed if we keep our mind and eyes closed, to the possibilities in our mistakes.  Mistakes can be great learning tools as we have discussed from time to time.  However mistakes can be much better than the original intention of the photograph.

Asyour shutter opens, allow you mind to do the same thing.

Thank you to Michelle for allowing me to use her picture for this article.

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• #14 Comment from bgilmore725 
  2/23/08 10:53 PM | Permalink

  Yep, I see the muscle man... it's what I was thinking before I read your description, however, the title of the entry sort of gave it away, and I knew it was a lunar eclipse photographed without the tripod. I didn't even try to take a picture of it. Blah, I should have been there, but something else was on my mind that evening. Your tips are helpful. "However mistakes can be much better than the original intention of the photograph." This I tell my students, but they just look at me like I'm crazy. It's a concept they have trouble accepting. They prefer the eraser. I wish I could just throw them all away sometimes (the erasers, not the kids!) bea
  
  http://journals.aol.com/bgilmore725/Wanderer/
  
• #13 Comment from lifes2odd 
  2/23/08 12:41 PM | Permalink

  Excellent entry greg. I happen to think Michelle's photo is really cool too. Love your quote at the end too. Martha :-)
• #12 Comment from nanmm11 
  2/22/08 9:44 AM | Permalink

  I saw the same thing and reminded her too that every photo has something in it for everyone's delight.
  Nancy
• #11 Comment from peytonswater 
  2/22/08 6:47 AM | Permalink

  That is amazing!
• #10 Comment from rdautumnsage 
  2/21/08 10:54 PM | Permalink

  Wonderful take on her photo! (Hugs) Indigo
  http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/