I just got back from a three week vacation, where I took about 48Gs of images. Now, comes the interesting part:  downloading and separating out the keepers from the rest.

To me, choosing the keepers is one of the hardest choices to make.  It struck me yesterday as I was sorting through my recent images that what I select tells something about me and is another example of "photoautobiography".  Why?  Because it represents what YOU see in the trillions of possible images that catches your eye.  Sometimes you can't explain it, but something caused you to take the picture and something still strikes you after the experiencing of seeing the image for the first time.

For example, I was in Prague in the Castle area near the end of the day.  My husband and I toured all day and we were taking a short break right before closing time.  As I looked around the courtyard, I saw this shot.

PAD April 9 I didn't think much about it until I started to review my shots yesterday.  I decided to keep it because I liked the open door, the shadow the door has on the building, and the window to the right, and the vines on top of the door and window.  All of that caught my eye originally and, upon review, was something that in my mind had some merit.  This was one of the easy shots to keep.

Now, what about a harder decision?  I took several pictures from the plane.  What struck me originally was the white of the puffy clouds and the white of the ground.  Why I was having a hard time deciding whether to keep this shot or not was the concern that it might be too busy, with not enough separation between the sky and the ground.  Why I decided to keep it is that I think I can get greater definition between sky and ground by using some plug-in filters in Photoshop and I think I can transform this into an interesting and artistic picture.  So, as is, I recognize that it needs a bit of work.  In my mind's eye, I see some potential and I think I have some tools that can dramatically transform the picture in a pleasing way.  (That transformation to be shown in another blog posting).PAD March 21

So, let me get back to the "Photoautobiographical" aspect of all of this.  Sorting through pictures is making decisions and every time you make a decision, it reveals something about you.  It shows the world what you believe has some merit, whether it be artistic, documenting a moment, or otherwise.  It tells the world what you value and what you believe is worth keeping and bringing to other's attention.

Next time you sort through your shots, take some time to pause and think about the ones you kept and the ones that you are going to throw away.  And, also think about what that tells about you.