Volunteers Needed

Hello.

I'm going to be starting a new weekly "Image Critique" feature here on my blog. If you are interested in having an image featured AND critiqued, please email it to me
by Clicking Here and please put "Image Critique" in the header. Also include any pertinent information that you can and your thoughts behind the image if there is one. Submitting a photo means that you agree to have it discussed and will not start weeping. Discussion and opposing viewpoints and opinions will be encouraged so that this feature can become a learning tool for everyone.

Make sure that submitted images are 72 dpi and 1000 pixels in it's longest dimension for review. A smaller 500 pixel version will be posted in the blog, with proper credit and a link back to your own site if you wish. If you wish it to link back, make sure you tell me in your email.

Every image will not be selected. I will try to select images that will make for interesting discussion and have teachable points. Everyone that does submit an image will get an email back acknowledging their submission and whether or not it has been selected to go into the queue.

This feature will eventually make it's way into the new quarterly photography magazine that I am going to begin publishing in the summer of 2009.

Thank you.

Thanks for a great Opening Night!

Thanks to everyone that showed up at Gallery 4 for the latest Opening Night Reception of my work this year. It was a hot and steamy evening, and that just made the very cold adult beverages taste all the better.

I'd also like to thank the owner of Gallery 4, Klia Ververidis Xanthopoulos, for having me and my work in her gallery.

This show will run through July 31st, so if you have a chance to make it by, come take a look. I'm taking August off from the exhibit schedule but will be back hanging on walls again in September.

New Exhibit and Reception Invitation

Today's Top 10 List for Success....

You want to be a photographer? Pay attention.....

1. Be passionate or get rid of your camera. You can't do this (or anything else usually) half hearted. You have to love what you are doing because it isn't easy. There will be plenty of times when you will want to take up plumbing because you see some weird stuff out there. If you are passionate about photography, it won't matter what anyone else is doing. Do your own thing.

2. Be flexible, but not too flexible. Be willing to try new things. New compositions, new themes, new ideas, but retain the standards that make you who you are.

3. Be positive. Nobody wants to deal with somebody that is constantly moping around. You should be enthusiastic about what you are doing. it should give you satisfaction. If you aren't, or it doesn't, please refer back to #1.

4. Make those around you look good. Be professional and humble. Make your clients look good. If everyone you affiliate with business wise looks good, eventually, people will figure out the common denominator.

5. Be loyal. Nothing is harder to repair than a reputation. You don't want a reputation as a photographer that uses and abandons clients and employers.

6. Work hard. This should go without saying, but what you get out of this is directly proportional to two things; your talent, and how hard you work.

7. Be proactive. Play the ball, don't let the ball play you. Don't wait until there is a problem and just react to it. Anticipate the problem and head it off. Pay attention to what is going on around you. Keep your head on a swivel. (Is that enough sporting metaphors?)

8. Embrace change. Change happens. Sticking your head in the sand doesn't help. Believe me, I know this to be true. I tried to ignore digital photography and kept telling myself it was a fad that would fade away. It isn't and it won't. It's here to stay folks and film photography is pretty much already a niche business, and it's going to get more and more rare as the cost of silver drives up the cost of film and papers.

9. Speak up. Have opinions, and don't be afraid to be wrong. Engage in conversation about your craft. This is where some of the greatest ideas and self discovery is made.

10. Have fun. If it isn't fun, you aren't doing it right. If you truly love what you are doing, it isn't work.

Doors

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." - Henry David Thoreau

"Everything has it's beauty, not everyone sees it." - Confucius

"One does not see anything, until one sees beauty." - Oscar Wilde

"People only see what they are prepared to see." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Opening Reception at Kimball-Jenkins

Well, last night was the opening reception of my exhibit at the Jill Coldren-Wilson Gallery that is on the campus of the Kimball-Jenkins School of Art in Concord, New Hampshire. This was my largest exhibit ever, with 24 pieces on display.

The work usually goes up a week before the reception, but I try not to go look at it prior to the opening night. I was a little apprehensive for the past few days, waiting for the time to arrive, and to be honest, I couldn't wait until 5:00 to show up. I pulled into the gallery at about 3:45 and made my way up the granite walkway to the steps leading into the old Victorian mansion that houses the gallery space. I was amazed at what the curator had done. Everything looked great, from the way my photographs were displayed, to the food tables, to the beverage carts. Everything was first class. The display of my images was beautifully done. I personally would have never hung it this way, but it really worked, causing each of the four rooms to be individual, yet connected to each other. It far exceeded my expectations.

There was a great turnout, as the reception was included as part of Art Concord, and hopefully, as this event becomes more successful, more venues can be added.

Some highlights of the evening (in no particular order):

1. Being "reprimanded" for the title of one of my images. This particular viewer felt that the title was insulting to him, as it didn't give him credit for seeing what I thought he should see in the image. It didn't need to smack him in the face.

The offending "Ghost in the Garage"

2. Listening to two viewers discuss the "faces" they saw in one image.

"Satin Rose" Do you see faces?

3. Meeting people that came from as far away as New York to see my work. I'd never met them before, and it was an absolute honor to meet them that night. Dave and Jan, I am humbled.

4. Meeting Jill and Robert Wilson, (the gallery is named after Jill Coldren-Wilson), as they attended my reception. They are wonderful people, and invaluable to the local art community.

5. Being referred to as "the Georgia O'Keefe of photography". However uncomfortable I might be with that comparison, it was very nice of them to say.

Georgia O'Keefe-ish?

6. Being offered a teaching position at the Kimball-Jenkins School of Art. Beginning in July, I will be teaching photography to the students at the art school.

For anyone that was unable to attend the reception, but is still interested in viewing the installation, the gallery is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday and other times by appointment. This display runs through May 29th.

I'd also like to take a moment to specially thank Ryan Linehan, the Director of the Kimball-Jenkins School of Art for all that he has done for the local art community, and for me personally.

Fortune Tellers, Palm Readers, and Weathermen

What do they all have in common? About a 50% accuracy rate, that’s what. Oh how I wish I could only do half of my job right and still be a celebrity in town and get paid for it too. Not that their accuracy was any better 20 years ago, but now, with everyone on the news being some sort of character in a bizarre 30 minute sitcom, I’d at least like them to recognize that they are correct in their prognostications far less than they should be. Someone who gets paid to analyze the weather and predict to the public what is going to happen SHOULD be able to do a better job than I can by looking at the satellite loops on the internet.

Saturday was Opening Day for the local Little League baseball. While watching the “news” Friday night, against my better judgment, I stuck around for the weather report. It looked to me like it was going to rain, but let’s see what the professionals have to say. Now understand that at this point, Saturday morning is less than 8 hours away. I’m not looking for a 10 day forecast (now there is a joke), I just want to know what the weather is going to be eight hours from now.

Saturday – Mostly Sunny with temperatures in the low to mid 50’s

Sunday – Mostly Sunny with a chance of an afternoon shower creeping in

Saturday morning arrives and it is pouring rain and in the 40’s. Well, maybe it will clear up by noon time….

Noon comes and it is still pouring out and in the 40’s. 150 kids marching in the Opening Day Parade, all soaking wet and shivering. 150 kids standing on the field being introduced to the fans, who are also all soaking wet and shivering. Everyone standing in the rain eating soggy hot dogs and potato chips, while soaking wet and shivering.

Almost forgot, it rained all day Sunday as well.

Nice job Mr. Meteorologist. Thanks for the help.

(The photographs included in this blog are obviously not from this weekend. They are samples from last seasons photographs)