The Editing Begins:

I began editing, the Robert Bogus piece, two days ago when I returned from interviewing Jana. That piece was put to rest this morning and now I have begun work on Jana’s interview.

The Bogus piece was a great place to begin the editing process. It was also great practice in taking 90 minutes of material and condensing it down to eight minutes. Nearly everything Robert talked about was relevant and powerful. With Jana’s interview I can see, already, that I will be faced with a similar daunting task.

Someone asked me, the other day, about whether or not I do my own editing. My reply was: most definitely. I equate it with the darkroom in the relationship to me as a photographer. I couldn’t imagine having anyone else print my images. Sure there were times – especially in the color realm, or when deadlines were prohibitive. But as much as I could, I would do the printing.

And as I experienced in the photographic darkroom, I am experiencing the same here – and that is the emotional connection. For me, the final product – be it still image or video, should be a melding of the subject’s emotions and the photographer’s emotions. Herein lies the true power. Images are only images without it.

Coming directly off of the Bogus piece and then directly into Jana’s piece, [with a short hiatus at my friend Bob's recording studio - listening to the CD he wrote and produced of "Trucker Songs"], my emotional state is buzzing and intense. Had it not been for the hiatus, I truly would have overloaded, and that is an incredible place to be. It is better, and far more intense and fulfilling than any drug and it is always with me – always accessible.

Until next time….