As a software developer, one of the things I do every day is refactor code. I’ll write some code to solve a problem, test it out to make sure it works, and then I’ll take another look at the code and see if there’s a way to make it more clear or more efficient. Then, of course, I’ll test it again 😉
Writers do this too. First, they’ll write a basic draft of their story to cover the main ideas, and then they’ll read it over and over again to make the words flow better and to make their message stand out more.
But, what about photographers? Do you ever take a look at one of your photos and say something like, “wow, I really like this photo of mine, but I wish one thing was different”? It doesn’t have to be something big, it could even be something as simple as moving your camera one step to the left so a tree stands out more from the background.
You could say this is being too picky about your photographs, but I think it’s the key to growing as a photographer. Because, if you keep finding little faults in your photographs, then you’ll always be motivated to learn new things.
So, if you find a fault in one of your photos, then do some research to find out why it happened. And then try to make that photo again.
It might take a couple of tries to get that photo you ultimately envisioned, but don’t give up! The important part is that you’re learning something new with each new attempt, and you keep getting closer and closer to that image you want.
An example: the cholla cactus
The cholla is my favorite cactus of the desert, and it happens to be one of the few cacti that I haven’t bumped into yet 😉 (which is great news, cause I think they look pretty painful).
But, I wasn’t too satisfied with my first attempt to photograph some cholla, which is pictured above on the left. I felt like the mountains in the background weren’t big enough in relation to the cactus, and I felt like there were too many cacti visible in the image. I wanted to isolate just one cactus against a nice background.
So, I went back to the same location and tried again. This time, I spent more time looking for an isolated cactus that was closer to those mountains (so the mountains would be bigger in the image).
My second attempt is pictured on the right (above). And, I was a lot more satisfied with this image because I think the cactus stands out more and the bigger mountains help add some balance to the image.
Some people still like the first image better, and that’s totally fine! What’s really important here is that you create the image you initially set out to create, even if it means multiple attempts.
Just remember that with every attempt, you’re getting closer and closer to that image you originally envisioned.
Have you already refactored your photos?
If you have a good story about how you refactored one of your photos, then please share it with us by leaving a comment below! Thanks!! 🙂
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About the Author: Steve Berardi is a naturalist, photographer, computer scientist, and founder of PhotoNaturalist. You can usually find him hiking in the beautiful mountains and deserts of Southern California.
Hey Steve, nice post, I agree with you on the process but not about the cactus photo evolution.
If yes, the second one is better composed, colors and tones are far more interesting in the first one. The subtle warm rim light melting with cold white highlights on greenish cacti has nothing to do with the overpowering colors and hard shadows of the second one. Don’t you think ? Just my 2cts here 🙂
Absolutely! All the time 🙂 When reviewing my images, I accept what I have (no point beating oneself up :), AND I make a mental notation as to the settings or conditions that would improve the final image. I find that as opportunities arise, I am quicker at refining my camera settings, timing at capturing light more refined and I don’t need to take as many images as I did only a year ago. Understanding the subject or sport is important so you can anticipate ‘the moment’ when it presents itself 🙂
My Daily Muse
http://humbirdhum.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/the-hummingbird/
My Annual Drama
http://humbirdhum.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/the-moment/
Great post, great examples (and I prefer the second pic 🙂
I agree with you 100%. I do a lot of photos for a botanical garden ie. green on green, so I have to constantly look at my photos to see how I could get better depth of field when little exits or contrast when the colors can all be shades of green except in early spring with the flowers in bloom or late fall with the autumn colors. Also if I want photos for purposes other than putting them in their plant data base I have to know when the light is right, where to stand, what to shoot, shutter speed/apeture/iso. Have to take many photos of what I want to shoot when it is green on green so I am ready for the big show in the fall and spring.
I once took an awesome shot and did not notice some bubble-gum stuck to my subject. After a few expletives I decided to drive back to that spot – with a scraper in hand – and retake the shot, minus the gum. I could have just cloned it out. Does that count?
Sometimes you are long gone from the site so photo rendering has to happen. Very often in the garden when I am doing close ups of photos there will be things falling from other trees stuck in an odd place on that plant that I do not see until I download my photos. Also, on a plant like a daylily you need to do some dead heading to get the old stuff off for a great photo. As a volunteer I can only do so much “plant fixing” before a horticulturist in that area will remind me of the rules! Also, when out and about on the drive by photos you have no choice sometimes but to PhotoShop. The idea that all your photos should be taken perfect the first time does not apply on this planet as some of the best things happen by accident.
Steve;
I have often to returned to sites I find interesting. I like your first image rather than your second image. I believe it is sharper, more details, more interest, for me. THe second one misses on some of those items. Appreciate your interest showing me how to make better photo’s. Same sites, different views!
I was surprised to find that the 2nd photo was your favorite. I like the first one so much more. There are so many interesting things and lighting that keeps bringing my eyes back into the photo – but of course, that’s missing the point of the article. Good things here to think about and learn from. Thank you.
I like the rich golden sunlight hitting the cactus in the 2nd photograph, but in general, I like the composition of the first photograph. I would crop about 1/8 inch off the bottom of the first photo though. I think the amount of deep shadow in the bottom of the frame of the 1st one is very slightly too much.
I also like the other cacti in the background of the first photo. They balance the composition (without detracting from the main subject).
Hi Steve,
Funny that I was thinking along with those people who like the first image of the cactus.
I like the exposure, definition and contrast of the plant itself on the first image, although I noticed the background was distracting. I, however, did not notice or dislike the mountains size until you mentioned it. Beautiful light on both. Thanks for the learning opportunities
I love the article, but have to admit I prefer the first photo myself. I think the other cacti in the background adds interest, and the foreground cactus is slightly off-center. I generally don’t like centering any flower if it is put into a scene, and would prefer that the mountain is not centered directly above the cactus as well. I have often returned to a scene of a particular flower or location to capture it under different lighting and to change up the composition slightly. I have to agree with Victoria in her comment that some of the foreground in the first picture could have been cropped out. Enjoyed the article and always look forward to new ones. This article is a little more thought provoking and certainly generated some interesting comments.
Like you I’m a software developer and refactor code all the time. I never once thought about applying that practice to photography. Interesting idea. Thanks for presenting it. FWIW I also like the first photo better than the second.
Hey all, thanks for your nice comments and for sharing your great stories!!
I think most people like that first shot better than the second one. For some reason though, every time I look at that first shot, I keep wanting those mountains to be bigger and more visible. But, I really don’t think there’s a “right” answer here 😉
@ABarlow – That is some great dedication! I think I would’ve just cloned out that gum, but I like your idea better cause it also makes the scene look better for the next person who comes along 🙂
@Victoria – I like your idea of cropping a little more from the bottom of the first image. I didn’t notice that until you mentioned it, and now it’s really bothering me, hehe 😉 I’m still not completely satisfied with this scene though, so I’ll be headed back to “refactor” again . Thanks for the suggestion!
I’ve written a bit of code and am familiar with refactoring, but I never looked at a photo through that lens before.
As a writer, though, I’ve often looked at reshooting a photo as rewriting. Also, moreso, re-editing a photo is very much like a rewrite to me.
That said, I often revisit favorite subjects … not so much because I’m dissatisfied with a previous effort, but because I want to see what I can do different, or to capture a different aspect in different light or cloud conditions, etc.
However, there is a photo I specifically refactored (though not thinking of that term at the time). The circumstances of the first photo … it was a bit of a dashed off shot, but when I processed the exposure, I realized it was a missed opportunity to produce something a little more special. The subject was a barn, but in framing the shot in my view finder, I’d missed some lovely little blue flowers in the lower left corner. Because I shot at f5.6, they were disturbingly out of focus. When my hard drive crashed and I potentially .lost the original image, I became even more motivated to go back to the same location under the same light conditions. I did that — shot at f22 and am quite pleased with the results.
http://vufindr.com/2011/09/14/barn-francis-road-from-cacner-road-bethany/
Steve, I also like the first photo better. I prefer the light and there’s a smoother flow from foreground to background with the hill less prominent. The second photo has the feel of two subjects battling for attention with neither winning. But thanks for sharing your work and notes on this photos — great stuff to ponder.
Howard, you’ve made me re-view the 2nd photo with your comment ‘the feel of two subjects battling for attention” – I think you’ve pointed out exactly what I wasn’t keen on in the second photo – two subjects battling.
I like the prominence of the cactus in the first photo.
I’ve just spent a couple of hours at my nearby Botannical Gardens photographing Cacti & this article made me re-think the way I shot nearly every photo. Thanks for the discussion subject, Steve.
@Howard – Great story about refactoring your photo of that barn. I think the final version came out great! And, you make an interesting point about my second photo of the cholla: that there’s two subjects battling each other. I kinda agree with you, and now I really feel a need to go back again and take another shot 😉
@Victoria – Glad this post was helpful to you! 🙂
Steve, as I have mentioned before, I take a lot of photos of trees and shrubs in a botancial garden as part of their upgrade to a new plant data base. I need the tree or shrub to standout so it usually takes up the whole field of vision. What I have learned, especially from the very large trees is that the subject shows better with less background. Isolating a shrub or tree is not simple when there are many shrubs and trees all around the one subject. Since you like this cholla cactus make it the center of the photo with a hint of its surroundings. If you like the flow of all the cholla cacti up to the mountain it may play better to make the photo a landscape where no particular forground subject is actively drawing the viewers attention. The cacti will blend into their environment and show even more of their structure, texture, and beauty than when it not is a center forground object with a lot of other interests pulling the viewers eye.
Always. I always return to the scene of the crime and try to do better.