Ahhh, it's like waiting for a wedding (or perhaps funeral) to start, or
perhaps waiting to go on stage for a performance . one sits and reflects.
I've been lurking on this list for, oh boy, much more than ten years, well
before digital got started, and have gotten to "know" a lot of the members.
So in a small way, a bit like a community. So you'll pardon my reflections
here .
As you probably noted from previous notes, I've got a show opening tonight,
forty images, with a theme of Kansas beauty and colors (I know, I know,
some of you might think of this as a contradiction in terms). It's about my
sixth individual show, but feels somewhat different because it's in a School
of Art gallery . which guarantees fairly sophisticated folks at least in
their minds. Profs, students, other faculty, board members, etc. Not
unwilling to express opinions. Welcome of course .
But the pins and needles part of it: those many of you that have done
photography as a profession and a business are probably reasonably inured to
the uncertainties that arise, the question always in the background - will
the work measure up? (As an aside, this is one reason this OM list is so
energizing - aside from the broad OT discussions, a lot of sharing of images
and commentary occurs; while technical stuff is discussed and, even, of
manufacturers and products [so much of what other lists do], the really
interesting stuff is expertise demonstrated in actual images, not just
opinions.) But for us that haven't been so professionally engaged over a
career, that question of measuring up is always there. I admire everyone
on the list willing to share images and make and receive useful comments.
Again, this OM list has so much to aspire to: not just technical
performance (ETTF? Software? Full-frame euphoria, oh boy) but composition,
color/emphasis/BW, etc.) And at least on the technical side it is such a
moving target.
Anyway, the pins and needles part: actually two parts - will the work
measure up, and I'll have much to contemplate from the response of the folks
there - the second part unfortunately is about weather, with some
possibility of freezing rain/snow about show time. Will the folks actually
show up? So we'll see .. as in all things, a learning experience.
Bob Benson
PS: one technical thing y'all might be interested in - I'm experimenting
with a different media for presentation in this show. I'm using a
graphics/signage company with a Fuji flat-bed printer (the Acuity series)
normally used for printing (outdoor) signs. We're printing directly on
half-inch white foam board, 2 or 3 inch margin mimicking matting in a small
metal frame. Eliminates glass (glare), exceptionally light, using small
Velcro strips for wall mounting, and a lot less expensive than traditional
printing/matting/framing. A lot! Doing 30x40 and 22x28 images. This
gives flexibility (I can put the result directly into standard photo frames)
and panders to four-thirds form factor.
So a big part of the pins and needles: how will this appeal to the
audience? In terms of sales, I'm offering a standard frame/glass option
for those interested, although my experience is that buyers are often more
inclined to frame themselves. We'll see.
--
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