Indecent exposure . . .

While in Astoria, Oregon, I photographed reflections in water because I loved how rich the blue and gold colors were (top photo).

Glancing to my left, I saw a rusty piling that had some light blue paint splattered on it (bottom photo). The piling was lighter and brighter than the background water. If I metered off the darker water, the piling would be way overexposed. So I metered off the piling, figuring it was better to have the piling properly exposed, not caring if the water went darker. Did it work? Well, yeah, except that I've really lost all the drama in the water, haven't I?

Luckily when I take miserable shots such as this, I can keep them, blithely writing them off as "teaching tools!" Ha! Love this job...

©Carol Leigh

Bad Photos and Why They're Bad: Genoa Leaves

Have you ever taken a quick shot and later wished you'd spent just a bit more time and taken it "right?" That's my situation here. I saw these leaves clustered together in the street, right next to a curb, pointed my camera down, clicked, and then walked on. I figured it was a nothing photo, was in a hurry to get somewhere else, and simply didn't pay attention.

Looking at it now, oh, how I wish I had taken more time. Look at the variety of leaves I have here. Isn't it great? Some good, some dead, some torn, some colorful, some not. And the light's good — light shade. But where, oh, where is the design in the picture? There isn't one.

I should have picked one or two exceptional leaves and placed them lower or upper right, lower or upper left, pursuant to the Rule of Thirds. Why? So you'd have a focal point, a place to begin and end your visual ride around the picture. As it is, there's nothing here that catches your eye to begin with, nothing that moves you from one point to another, no rhythm, no movement, nada.  You don't know what I considered important in the scene and, apparently, neither did I!

What's the solution? For me to fly back to Genoa, Nevada, hoping the leaves are still there? Of course not. The answer is to pay more attention when I photograph, to slow down, not to be in such a hurry.

So although there's a part of me that still sort of likes this picture, it's really a bad one, and now you know why.

©Carol Leigh