In my previous post I wrote that I had a hard time deciding which photograph to choose for last week Wednesday. I even left behind a message on twitter in the hope to get some good feedback. Even though I don’t intentionally photograph with a project in mind I am however fully aware that I photograph during a week or longer period a long a similar theme. At the end of the week, when I make my final edit I the flow of the week, it plays an even more important role for me.
So even though I don’t intentionally work on a series, my intuition makes me subconsciously work on it. And that influences my editing. Editing with regards to selecting photographing, not post processing them. Editing for a series is in my opinion very different from editing a single photograph. A single photograph may pop, scream for attention, wants to be noticed. In a series each individual photograph tries to complement the others, bringing harmony and unity. As a result a really good photograph might not make the cut, cause it doesn’t serve the context of the series. Off course a series might have a few exceptional good photographs to strengthen it, to get noticed, just like a few hit singles on a music album.
Last week’s Wednesday felt special when I left home for work. There was a lot of fog and I knew from my local knowledge that some places would work really well. I took a small detour and soon realized that a nearby parking lot provided me a good scene for a photograph. The horizontal and vertical lines of the parking places and the horizontal lines of the background silhouettes would fit nicely within the photographs I had already taken that week. The hardly noticeable light posts in the background added some juxtapositions in the composition.
After that I moved further east into the direction an estate close to my work. With the upcoming sunrise I noticed some light getting underneath the withdrawing fog. I realized the available time frame was short and immediately rode to an interesting spot. I really don’t know what it was, but despite using a 28mm wide angle the scene got something of a fish eye perspective. Unlike my previous photographs this week with the horizontal and vertical lines, this scene had mostly bending lines and stronger curves. It was very different, but I was very excited and had the feeling that it was a good photograph. Admitted, I think it is the better photograph. And general comments I received on my tweet the previous week confirms this.
As a photographer you learn many things and some knowledge is rather easily transferable. Some knowledge however is so hard to comprehend. You really need to study this, invest a lot of time, and discuss this with others. Reason maybe why there is very limited information available about this. Editing is something I feel is very difficult. It took me ages to create a portfolio and yet I am still full of doubt whether my edit is good enough. You tell me, context, form, light, that is what matters. Depending on the subject and genre the importance of each three items might vary. For street photography context could be more important, but for landscape form and light might be of greater significance.
Now I would love to share tips and thoughts on editing your own work, but I have no glue how to do so. It is very difficult to pick a single photograph, but it is maybe even harder to select a number of photographs for a series. And it will always feel awkward to keep a good photograph unselected.
All photographs by Wouter Brandsma
Wouter Brandsma 
That second shot is very nice. I love the mood and the repeating lines. It creates a real feeling of loneliness.
For me that was the reason why I eventually selected it. I personally consider the first one more pleasing to the eyes.
It’s the difference between these two frames that makes all the difference. The first one got something soothing, something unknown. The second frame evokes a restless feeling.
There are single frames I take that process itself. It’s just a little bit work on contrasts & levels. Working on a series is something completely different. I love to work on series from time to time. And it’s funny: One of my first series entitled “invisible city” became a series though I didn’t intend it to be one. I suddenly noticed that combining neon lights, the night & the city couldn’t be nothing else but a series. I made myself some pretty strict rules & with that the processing isn’t much work.
The second series, which I don’t have a title for about female body parts in harsh contrasts to simply black background is so much work that I need to take time off from time to time. Every single frame is picked up a lot of times to be processed. It didn’t do much photoshop editing with them & I don’t crop them because I don’t like that but to get the right feel is pretty hard work. Often I just have to put these photographs aside to return later & start a new.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts & these two totally different gems, Wouter!
All the best & safe travels, Fritsch.
Normally I would myself more time for editing photographs, but I realize too that I committed myself to this PAD project. I am however fascinated by the fact how the subconsciousness affects how we see, feel, select, and judge,
For the first more soothing image (I like that expression) I think it needs more time. And maybe I more images that work together with this one.
Really like these, Wouter. They go wonderfully with the color palette.
I think the most important thing is that you made an edit. That is the 90% hurdle. Of course you can tighten and refine the edit over time, but you made an edit and that is the hard thing. I’m still not there. I feel it coming, though. A restlessness and a change is pervading my photography that I think can only be resolved by organizing my work with a ruthless edit.
~Eric
For some, Eric, working with a project in mind helps them with the editing. I personally prefer not to work with a conscious theme or project in mind, but it makes sense to realize that there is an underlying force that keeps you unnoticed on track of stuff. Editing is still difficult though and it could help to make use of some guidance. Like bringing the edit down to a certain number of photographs. Or giving your edits some thoughts and time and to share your doubts, concerns, and feelings with others.
Both images have their merits, but I’d say you made exactly the right choice for this week’s post. Maybe the more organic foggy U turn will find it’s own week, but not one with all the other linear man made patterns.
I am proud enough of the more organic, soothing, image to share it. It is worth it, in my opinion. It was just not right however to fit within the week series.
Hi Wouter!!!! I think that this is common problem that has perhaps faced photographers for as long as there has been photography. Which one is “the one” that points out my intended message. I think the only difference is where in the past artists and photographers had much more time to think and be with their work before they chose. I do not think the process is different but perhaps time is the only factor that has been accelerated and created some sense of urgency. Now we pick and post in a fraction of the time as our predecessors. Ultimately if I might add my opinion the ultimate choice is reflected in how you feel at that moment you make your choice based on your thoughts when you took the photo. So it is the same as the past methods only, it possibly feels faster or rushed, making us uncertain. (I hope I made sense sometimes it is hard to articulate these things) ~ John
I agree that many photographers who worked on series took some considerable time until making the final edit. A certain deadline could however force you to work more intuitive. And while a certain feeling makes sense for editing, being able to actually tell it why you made an edit is even more important I think.
I must confess pick one photo and left another behind is always the hardest task to be made, but editing and feel good about it is even hardest, i´ve found in your post always a harmony hard to describe, it could be the shapes, colours or even processing, but your week´s post are always something I wait for.
I should said every time I look into my past photos, even the photos taken and edited two weeks ago, i feel something is missing and I started all over again, so make in a portfolio is only a dream to me.
Thanks for making public your ideas, I rather identify my self with the first photo, the soft lines combined with the hint of green across the fog are cosy and close.
I think it makes perfect sense to give this process of editing, series, and portfolios some considered time. And I think you are doing a better job at editing then you personally feel so.
Hi Wouter! I very much like the top photo here – the way that track comes into the foregound and swirls around to go back out to the background again is very good, and the very thin trees on the island surrounded by the track are great too.
I’m a great fan of posting just single photos, because each viewer can concentrate fully on each one, there are no other pics competing for their attention, and the viewers don’t have to say “third down from the top” or something like that. Also posting only a single shot lets the photographer say more about it – if I post several shots at once and want to say something about each one, that becomes quite hard work! Adrian