essential skills: digital photography in available light
Editing a story
The aim of editing work is to select a series of images from the total production to narrate an effective
story. Editing can be the most demanding aspect of the process requiring focus and energy. The
process is a compromise between what the photographer originally wanted to communicate and
what can actually be said with the images available.
Editorial objective
The task of editing is often not the sole responsibility of the photographer. The task is usually
conducted by an editor or in collaboration with an editor. The editor considers the requirements of
the viewer or potential audience whilst selecting images for publication.
The editor often has the advantage over the photographer in that they are less emotionally
connected to the content of the images captured. The editor’s detachment allows them to focus
on the ability of the images to narrate the story, the effectiveness of the communication and the
suitability of the content to the intended audience.
The process
Images are viewed initially as a collective. A typical process is listed as follows:
~ All images are viewed as thumbnails in the image editing software
~ All of the visually interesting images and informative linking images are selected or
ranked and the rest are hidden from view.
~ Similar images are grouped together and the categories (establishing, action, portrait
and detail) are formed.
~ Images and groups of images are placed in sequence in a variety of ways to explore
possible narratives.
~ The strength of each sequence is discussed and the communication is established.
~ Images are selected from each category that reinforce the chosen communication.
~ Images that contradict the chosen communication are removed.
~ Cropping and linking images are discussed and the fi nal sequence established.
ACTIVITY 6
Create at least 20 images of a chosen activity or event taking care to include images from all of
the four categories discussed in this chapter.
Edit the work with someone who can take on the role of an editor.
Edit and sequence the images to the preference of the photographer and then again to the
preference of the editor.
Discuss the editing process and the differences in outcome of both the photographer’s and
editor’s fi nal edit.