How Digital Technology Has Changed our Relationship with Content
The Overwhelming Quantity of Digital Content
The Impact of Phone Photography on Our Lives
The Need for Effective Editing in the Digital Age
The Intimacy between Quality and Quantity in Creativity
The Importance of “On the Spot” Editing Skills
The Never-Ending Stream of Content: Finding a Filter
The Promise of Digital Equilibrium for Creatives
Editorial Insights from a Commercial Photographer

Digital technology has changed the way we create, consume, and share content. We can capture and store almost infinite amounts of information, from personal photos to business proposals, in just a few clicks of a button. But with this abundance of digital content comes a new challenge: how do we sift through it all and find the gems?

The author starts his article by observing a common scene of a father taking pictures of his child playing at the playground. In the past, he might have taken a handful of shots, hoping to capture a few good ones. But in the digital age, he is likely to take hundreds of photos, not worrying about the cost or the time it takes to sort through them later. The same goes for phone photographers, who capture everything from their meals to their pets, and then share them on social media platforms like Flickr or Instagram.

At first, this might seem like a good thing. After all, it means we can preserve more memories and share them with more people. But as the author points out, there is a downside to this constant flow of content. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of images, sounds, and words that bombards us every day. And not all of it is worth our attention or time.

This is where editing comes in. The author argues that being able to edit effectively is a crucial skill in the digital age. In the past, when film was expensive and time-consuming to develop, photographers had to be selective about the shots they took. They had to trust their instincts and their eye for composition, knowing that they couldn’t afford to waste shots on mediocre subjects or angles. But now, with the ease of digital photography, anyone can take a hundred shots of the same subject and hope to find a few good ones afterwards.

The problem is that this mindset can lead to a culture of “more is better”. We think that because we can take more photos, or write more articles, or record more videos, that we should. But the reality is that we often end up with a lot of low-quality content that nobody wants to see. And sifting through all of that takes time and energy, which could be better spent creating something worthwhile.

The author believes that editing is more than just a technical skill. It’s also a mindset that values quality over quantity, and that is fearless and creative in its approach. Editing is not just about cutting out the bad parts and leaving the good. It’s about finding the hidden gems, the moments of brilliance that are buried in a sea of ordinary images or words. And it’s about being ruthless in your pursuit of excellence, knowing that every shot or word counts.

Of course, editing isn’t always easy. It requires discipline, focus, and a willingness to let go of the things that don’t serve our purpose. This can be hard when there is so much content to choose from, and when the line between good and bad is sometimes blurry. But the author argues that we need to become better at editing, if we want to make the most of our digital age.

So how do we do that? The author suggests that we start by honing our “on the spot” editing skills. This means learning to be more discerning in the moment, and not just relying on post-production to fix our mistakes. It means trusting our instincts, and being willing to take risks. And it means being open to feedback, and using it to improve our work.

Ultimately, the author believes that editing is a way of life. It’s not just about what we create, but also about the choices we make in our personal and professional lives. We need to learn to be selective in our friendships, our careers, and our hobbies, choosing the things that bring us joy and fulfillment, and discarding the rest.

In the end, the author argues that digital technology has brought us many new opportunities, but also many new challenges. The quantity of content is overwhelming, but the promise of creating something truly great is still there, if we are willing to put in the work. So let’s learn to be better editors, both in our creative pursuits and in our lives. Let’s choose quality over quantity, and find the hidden gems that make life worth living.