In Praise of Seconds

How do you feel about seconds?  When we think of seconds, we may think about having seconds of a tasty dessert, purchasing seconds, as in factory seconds, which may represent a special value in clothing or matresses, etc. or being awarded a second as in finishing the competition as a runner up -- good but not the best.  Seconds can represent something positive, something that is functional which is simply good enough, but seconds may also dennote an undesirable or disappointing outcome.  

I am thinking about seconds because I am in the process of identifying my most fundamental beliefs or closely held values in the form of a short list.  One of those beliefs that will make my final "life list" is the concept of seconds as in second looks, second chances, etc.

This week's photo falls under that label of a second.  It does not meet my standard as an excellent photo or as I like to call them, "a wall hanger".   As a photograph it will remain in an obscure digital file on my computer but it has served its immediate purpose by displaying to me that I have got a lot of learning to do if I am to change my future results.

The biggest flaw in this photo is that it doesn't feel right. It is not engaging intellectually or emotionally. I believe that great photos stir a response initially within the photographer and then within the viewer.  This one clearly is a second in that regard. The "What's Wrong List" starts with the object arrangement, their proportions, and the absence of textures which create dimension.  The list grows from this point to include the following:  1. a crop that is too tight, 2. lighting is underexposed given that most objects are dark in color, 3. there is no defining reflection off the Mason Jar leaving the right side with no highlights and  4. the worn revolver provides no physical dimension or meaning so it seems to lay within the frame like the horse head in the Godfather movie scene.  Except, it doesn't even provoke shock.

What is right about this photo is that it motivates me to study and shoot a still life again.  Creating a still life is challenging and fun.  This photo contains nothing that is not correctable given a second chance and further knowledge about composing still life photos.  My next attempt may not be a wall hanger either but I will be satisified knowing that I will use my disappointment with this photo to motivate my next attempt.

I invite you to tell me how what you would change to make this photo a future keeper.  How do your failures influence your photography?