Something a bit unusual happened regarding this photograph. I originally posted “it” a couple of week ago, but in a version that used a”portrait” mode aspect ratio. In my initial way of seeing the photograph, that is what I had in mind, partly because I wanted the figure to look very small by comparison to other features and partly because there was something in the upper part of the frame that I thought I wanted to include. But literally within minutes of sharing the image I reconsidered and began to feel that a square crop would be more effective. It allows the figure to be a bit larger, removes an unnecessary distraction that dominated the upper frame, and generally seems to produce a more effective composition.
These things happen! And because one of my reasons for sharing daily photographs is to reveal the ongoing “practice” of making my photographs, I am willing to be a bit open about my thinking and its evolution. First choices are often good choices… except when they aren’t. The particular trap I originally fell into is one that I’m usually on guard against, namely getting so attached to some marginal element of a photograph (in this case it was a sign in the upper portion of the frame) that I failed to see past it and recognize that the image would be stronger by removing that secondary subject.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him.
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