Looking for the ‘essence’?
I’ve been saying for a while, that I really hate to charge in there and edit images as soon as I’ve made them.
I’ve learned over the past decade that giving myself some time and distance between the shoot and the edit, has helped me be more objective about what it was that I captured. I also feel I’m able to get more out of my editing than I would have if I came home and worked on them right away. It’s that proverb about not seeing the wood for the trees. With a little bit of distance, I can see more clearly what the actual image ‘is’, rather than be caught up with trying to force the image to fit what I thought it ‘was’.
I’ve had a back log of images sitting in a little folder on my desk for about six months or maybe more now. When you run a workshop business, you spend a lot of your time with the clients and very little time on your own work. I perhaps maybe shoot as much stuff as I did, when I was not full-time. Anyway, I did look at the contents of the folder several months ago, and felt I didn’t have any enthusiasm to work on anything contained inside. I think at the time I felt there was really nothing there, but I was also aware that I was feeling a bit tired anyway. So on a hunch, I left the folder in my ‘to do’ box. I guess I knew I wasn’t really ready to approach looking at any images and doing any editing.
I know, it probably sounds a bit ‘zen’ to you. But I really do feel there is a time and a place for all things to be given attention. I didn’t feel it months ago, and I listened to how I was feeling and parked the images to one side. Today is clearly the day where I feel it’s the right time to work on them, and I’m very taken with the first image of Harris you see at the top of this post.
Regardless of whether you can’t wait after a shoot or not to work on your images, it’s also worth noting that it’s good policy to go back and review the negatives months later, because you may see things in there you passed over the first time. That photo fo Gullfoss you see – never made it to my Iceland book. It never even made it to any scanning stage at the time either because I was perhaps too wrapped up in the more obvious things that fitted what I was looking for. I’m sure there are always golden nuggets of images sitting in our previous shoots, ones we passed over, because we were looking for something else.
Months later, I’m free of any preconceived ideas I had. I’m able to just look at the images, very detached from what I was hoping to do during the actual shoot, and I’m able to take them for what they are.
I have always struggled with this Bruce, it’s hard to leave even one single pic untouched when you come back from shooting; but i think this is due to that “unnatural pressure” we feel upon ourselves that stems mostly from the desire to be seen. The internet has only aggravated this feeling of “pressure”.
I think you managed to come to this wisdom by experience: if you see lots of images that resemble you inner vision as soon as you get your film developed, you tend to skip other great pictures at first just because you know what you want more clearly than someone who’s just begun shooting seriously.
There will always be a time when you can go back to these slides and put them on a light table and say “Wow! I didn’t notice this one was *that* good”.
This is something that an amateur finds impossible. They feel they have to “prove” themselves in front of some mysterious audience (and by doing that, they also tend to overshoot and produce lots of uninteresting images).
It’s a self-made filter, an awareness that you can only gain by knowing what you want, and realising that what you want is more important than what you think other people want.
Leaving some of your pictures to sit idly there, knowing there’s no good in rushing them or editing when you’re not in the mood, is a great sign of artistic maturity.
Comment by RaIn — 8 August, 2012 @ 6:37 pm
I’ve never thought of it as a pressure to prove to others, or some imaginary audience. But it’s interesting to read that Rain.
Personally, I just think it’s all down to the need for immediate gratification – which is motivated by greediness, and a lack of sensitivity.
I think when folks make images, they’re emotionally attached to the moment when it was made. They want to make sure they’ve got what they saw and felt.
If it doesn’t live up to that, then it’s a failure. And so many images are resigned to the delete button – I’ve seen countless people delete on location. Being on location is no place to be an editor of your work.
I don’t struggle with it, because I feel pressure in another way – it can be a lot of pressure thinking about all the work you have ahead of you. I still haven’t looked at my Patagonia, Bolivia and Easter island shots because of that. And also, because I know that when I do, I will need to be fully emotionally engaged in what I’m working on.
I can’t work on images in a short spell between going somewhere and watching something on telly. It has to be a priority, something where I know I will have dedicated time to let myself get absorbed in the editing and reliving of the moment.
I think most of the editing that happens straight after a shoot, is thoughtless. It’s rushed, unconsidered and lacking sensitivity to what it is that’s just been captured. But until the photographer knows this, it’s easy to not realise just how much you’re affecting your output by that rushed moment.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 8 August, 2012 @ 6:46 pm
The Harris shot is absolutely stunning. Really. The Gullfoss one’s not exactly below par either, but it took a liitle while for my brain to “calibrate” it. But the Harris one, well if I got one shot a decade that good I’d be happy.
I don’t know if it’s the same thing, but I get overwhelmed by the quantity. Just scanning and taking to a basic level a couple of XPan rolls can take me two week’s worth of “photo time”. And digital is even worse. Sometimes I just feel all I’m doing is building up a backlog of sessions that “one day I’ll get around to editing”. But then they are always more photos to take. And the backlog grows.
Possibly the solution is to have some kind of overall plan. But I don’t really do planning….
Comment by David Mantripp — 8 August, 2012 @ 8:26 pm
Hi david,
I get overwhelmed by the quantity. There’s a fear or not being able to do it justice….. that’s my perfectionism coming in to haunt me.
So I try to work on one sheet of film at a time. It makes the entire thing more bearable, and easier to manage. A bit like software design perhaps : )
Comment by Bruce Percy — 8 August, 2012 @ 8:35 pm
ps. There’s almost a sepia quality that Harris shot. It’s quite warm for me. So I think that’s why I’m responding to it so much myself.
I’d like to think I could learn something from this shot.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 8 August, 2012 @ 8:36 pm
I too love that Harris shot, gorgeous.
I struggle with what you say here to be honest though. Maybe it’s as Rain says, it demonstrates ‘artistic maturity’ that I have yet to develop. I’m not in a rush to get images processed but I do feel an urge to do so close to the shoot. I think greediness might make the point a bit too strongly, but there is definitely a ‘look at me’ element to it.
I think as Rain says there’s an intangible pressure to be constantly producing and showing work. Although this feels like external pressure I think it comes from within, like a desire to be relevant, to be acknowledged. And I think that probably demonstrates some lack in maturity or perhaps confidence that the world will still care when you’re ready.
I don’t think that’s the main pressure though. I’m very conscious that I’m growing at the moment (as we all are, but some of us have more to grow!) and there’s a part of me that feels I need to review and learn from the images I’m making to support that growth. Even perhaps a reassurance that I’m not wasting my time.
There’s also a sense that even personally I don’t find images from 6+ months ago ‘relevant’ – I can see issues I’ve since addressed and so maybe lack the enthusiasm to complete the image. Even as you say yourself, I’m not the same person as I was 6 months ago so something about it feels like second guessing who I was from the standpoint of now? But then perhaps it doesn’t matter and how today’s ‘me’ responds to the raw materials is all that does? Hmm.
Normally the penny drops immediately with your posts. This has me in conflict and thinking. Perhaps it seems so distant from where I am that I’m resistant to the idea. I shall ponder this further!
I do think this represents an assuredness in what you’re doing that some of us lack.
On a different point, if you did have more time do you think you would return to the images sooner, or shoot more? I’m wondering if this is a function of circumstance?
(as an interesting thought in agreement, I recently finished an image from Glen Coe shot in March and it was my first ever Explored image on Flickr with dozens of comments and faves! Wonder if that would have been true with more immediate processing…)
Comment by Duncan Fawkes — 8 August, 2012 @ 9:10 pm
Without wanting to ass to my novel, I wonder if this relates to the question of ‘who is your art for?’. Perhaps if the answer was more for yourself than others then ‘the wait’ becomes increasingly irrelevant?
Comment by Duncan Fawkes — 8 August, 2012 @ 9:13 pm
Ass should be add lol, silly iPad :)
Comment by Duncan Fawkes — 8 August, 2012 @ 9:14 pm
Hi Duncan,
I’m not sure what you’re saying when you said “you struggle with what I say here”. Does that mean you don’t get what I’m saying, or that you struggle with adopting the ‘take your time’ approach?
I can only tell you what works for me, and how I approach my own image philosophy.
I don’t think ‘greedy’ is too strong a word. The need to consume, to complete, to show to others – if it’s that strong and overrides any artistic sensibility (which I think it does – it makes for rushed work), then it’s greedy, because greed is destructive and I think this haste to create work acts for itself an for no other purpose.
I don’t feel a need to prove myself to anyone. I’m aware that others feel they need some form of approval, some recognition that where they’re going is the right way. That’s one of the reasons why folks enter competitions and put images up on flickr. I certainly got a buzz from showing my work on my website years ago, but I think these days, I get inspired by the possibilities of what I may produce in future. The past has been so kind to me. But I feel I’m just going with my artistic flow. I don’t often question it, unless I’m tired or feeling low. Otherwise I’m just happy going on the journey now.
On the subject of having more time, there’s only so much enthusiasm and inspiration one can get, and that too is a matter for greed. I’ve been thinking today that these images couldn’t have come about sooner. They had to wait their turn, because I was feeling burned out. It’s all about balance. Too much of a good thing, can turn it into a bad thing. I wouldn’t have shot more, I would have rested more and done other things with my life. Keep things fresh. I might have returned to them sooner, because six months is a long gestation period for me, but I would have only done that if I felt enthused, and that only comes with some rest and distance I feel.
I think greed is something I see a lot of. The haste to get to a location, to shoot as much as you can, to get everything, to shoot everything, and then feel you still want to shoot more. Some folks are insatiable when it comes to photography – it’s very addictive. But I have the same approach on location as I do in the post-edit. There’s only so much I can do, and I make sure that what I work at is good, even if it mean I’ll miss other things.
So I think attitude and outlook make a terrific impact on your work. If you’re prone to impatience for example, I don’t think you’ll be a good photographer. If you’re always wishing you’d got something you missed, you’ll never be able to enjoy it for instance. It’s all about attitude sometimes I think.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 8 August, 2012 @ 9:27 pm
LOL! Duncan :-)
I’m often questioning why I do what I do. Who is it for anyway?
Of late, I’ve been thinking that if I weren’t professional, I’d be happy not to have a website anymore. It’s a long story and one I find hard explaining. But in essence, I feel I only do my images for me, or I should do. But with a business, I’m aware that my images are my calling card. It hasn’t influenced me in how I make them, or what I decide to do. I’ve just been lucky so far to go with the flow, and things have come from me being honest to what I want to do.
Lofoten in Norway for instance. I never went there with the intention of making images to set up workshops there. I went because of an invite, enjoyed my time there, came home and was very happy with my images. Things moved on and a friend in Lofoten suggested I set up a trip at her place…. two months of her convincing me it was the right thing to do led me onto running trips there….. but I never really consciously set out to create work for that reason.
I think it would be a sad day when we say ‘if I do this, then people will like it’. That’s just not art is it? or following your own heart?
But I find the whole picture making thing a bit strange anyway. Why am I so compeled to make images? I think we look for deep answers, but I’m learning to try not to question things too much.
I do it because I enjoy it.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 8 August, 2012 @ 9:37 pm
I totally get what you’re saying, I meant I struggle with the thought of adopting the approach as it seems largely alien to me. That makes me sound like a voracious image spammer, which I don think I am. Just that waiting months seems like such a long time to go without feedback, either your own or others (what little of value you usually get of course!). In management we’re told to feed back little and often to aid personal development and so a part of me thinks that putting your images out there is a similar thing. But then slowing down may be a better teacher than all.
I have absolutely no right to criticise your approach and would hope that you didn’t read it as such! I was just staying I find this a difficult one for me to follow as it jars with my natural inclination, whatever my inclination is motivated by. But I shall think on it further, thank you for the challenge.
Comment by Duncan Fawkes — 8 August, 2012 @ 9:41 pm
Completely agree with that, esp the last couple of paragraphs.
Comment by Duncan Fawkes — 8 August, 2012 @ 9:44 pm
Hi Duncan,
Sorry if I came over badly there. I wasn’t sure if you got what I was saying or were struggling with the approach. It was a bit of a vague sentence. I didn’t take offence at all by anything you said, but just pointed out that if you were struggling believing in what I say, it’s just my point of view, and I think my point of view has a lot to do with how my images look.
Anyway, apart from us both being worried we’ve offended each other (we haven’t), my article wasn’t saying you should wait months. Now that was a bit too literal of you there Duncan ;-)
I’m merely saying (and have done several times in the past), that distance is a good thing.
As a manager, do you ever review how you tackled a project later on? Look back in hindsight to see what you got wrong, what you learned? I think its’ similar to that. But that distance is needed so you can look at it more objectively. Rather than be caught up in your own ego when you’re too close to it.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 8 August, 2012 @ 9:47 pm
You’re right – it was a shocking piece of English. Can I blame my iPad again? ;)
So ye we do reviews like you say, as well as through projects. The post project review ones are where most lessons are learned (or rather acknowledged, we often repeat the same mistakes :( ). There you are right, the distance is important to develop a wider perspective and better objectivity, rather than the emotional, reactionary stuff that happens mid flight. Which I think is exactly as you say.
I think if I’m a little less literal :) and resist the impulse to ‘show off’ (which is I would agree destructive) then his isn’t so hard.
Perhaps the piece I’m missing is reviewing for myself as I go to make sure I realise my mistakes and correct them. Perhaps if this is done quickly at a technical level to make sure I’m not spewing forth a bunch of eg OOF images then the ‘creative’ dialogue with the image can wait for another time? And I should be confident that I am growing in he meantime rather than needing that instant gratification/assurance.
Alternatively would you suggest a way of being patient whilst growing quickly or is that the paradox it sounds like? :)
Comment by Duncan Fawkes — 8 August, 2012 @ 10:13 pm
Hi Duncan,
I’ve been thinking about this….
If you have trouble resisting delving right in there soon after a shoot. Then you could always still use the approach I mention – just go back to older images you took months or even years ago – ones that haven’t been edited yet. Have a look at them. I bet you’ll find things in them you didn’t see at the time. Beautiful things. :-)
Comment by Bruce Percy — 8 August, 2012 @ 10:25 pm
I’m not sure what beauty there may be but I’m going to do that! If there’s interesting stuff from back then then I should have the confidence that there will be good stuff in there when I review my current shots later.
I’m also going to try to resist the urge in the meantime. I’m going to let my shots from the Lakes last weekend rest a while. Maybe it gives me a chance to go back to images I took but never got around to at the time and as you say I may surprise myself!
Thanks Bruce.
Comment by Duncan Fawkes — 8 August, 2012 @ 10:45 pm
Hi Duncan,
It’s been a few days now, and I’ve reconsidered my use of the word ‘greedy’. I’m a little worried that I may have offended others, but I’m really just trying to say that it’s a common problem (including myself) that we can get carried away with the moment and work in haste. Having a little bit of patience and reflection whilst making and reviewing images is, I feel, a really great thing to have so you can improve.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 11 August, 2012 @ 9:05 pm