Most photography software includes some kind of library functionality where you can tag your photo with stars, color, flag or stuff like that.
However most those I know (Capture One, Lightroom, Darktable) operate on some sort of internal database and you're assumed to import your files into the app. Which makes sense since they're supposed to be integrated solution where you do the whole processing in a single app (they assume that you start from RAW files and not jpgs).
There's two app I know that I think operate on your existing filesystem. Those are DigiKam and Photo Mechanic. Note that I never used DigiKam but I know it from reputation. Also, Photo Mechanic is a professional tool tailored for a large volume of photo (think sports, wedding and the likes). It's probably overkill for hobbyist use.
(I would describe my own workflow but am currently at work)
Lightroom Classic? Use reject on all the pictures you don’t like and when you do an export, you will have all the images you have not rejected in a new folder.
Could you clarify what you mean by selecting? Highlighting them on windows explorer (or equivalent)? Copying them to the clipboard?
Most photography software includes some kind of library functionality where you can tag your photo with stars, color, flag or stuff like that.
However most those I know (Capture One, Lightroom, Darktable) operate on some sort of internal database and you're assumed to import your files into the app. Which makes sense since they're supposed to be integrated solution where you do the whole processing in a single app (they assume that you start from RAW files and not jpgs).
There's two app I know that I think operate on your existing filesystem. Those are DigiKam and Photo Mechanic. Note that I never used DigiKam but I know it from reputation. Also, Photo Mechanic is a professional tool tailored for a large volume of photo (think sports, wedding and the likes). It's probably overkill for hobbyist use.
(I would describe my own workflow but am currently at work)
Lightroom Classic? Use reject on all the pictures you don’t like and when you do an export, you will have all the images you have not rejected in a new folder.
On Windows I really like ACDSee. It's super intuitive and lightning fast.
On Linux you could use feh or darktable (filemanager mode and culling mode)
With feh you can setup shortcuts to move files: