Reflections on the summer art show season

The last show of the season.

How many times have I packed and unpacked this year?

I do recall meeting a lot of very nice people, artists and guests. I also recall some unpleasantness along the way .....

I have been genuinely touched by all the people that stopped by my booth, considered my photographs, and took the time to tell me how much they liked my work. For a creative person, that is what it is all about. If you are somehow struck by an image that I have created, then I have succeeded. I have opened a channel of communication beyond words, in a realm of visual symbols that encode some emotional content. Wow .......

The positive response is also a source of inspiration. When I succeed, then I am driven to try again. I don't believe that anyone creative can work in isolation: their "product", be it words, images or music, is part of an elaborate dance between creator and viewer.

The shows are hard work, and long hours. Few people make a living from these shows. What I sell helps to keep me out there creating images. If I tallied up the hours spent photographing, processing, printing, framing and attending shows, and what I earn from the process, I suspect I would make more slinging hamburgers, but that is completely beside the point. I am out there, creating images, and interacting with an appreciative audience. I do this because I love it.

Surprisingly, I have been criticized at shows. Comments about it being "just" photography, "I could do that with my (fill in the name of a digicam)", "I went on a trip and have hundreds of photos like that ","my kid took a photography course, he could do that ..." and on and on. All within earshot, or right to me. I have to admit to being stung by such comments, but upon reflection, I have concluded that all of these individuals only saw the most obvious - an image of a rock, or tree, or a scene from Superior. They did not, or could not, look a bit deeper to see why I had chosen that particular image. The same image that others would express deep admiration for.

I have always concluded that there are visually oriented people, and there are those who are not. Among photographers, the same split exists. There are plenty of fellows, usually keen to talk about equipment or camera clubs, who seem to pay no attention to the images on display..... it seems to be all about the technology, the gadget, and not about the medium or creativity.

The most memorable experiences from these shows are talks about images. What elements make it work, what about the image evokes a response, what emotional responses are brought out. I am deeply flattered by people' s interest in my images. I also learn a lot about the visual communication from these discussions. Of course, when someone is moved to take one of my images into their home, I consider that the ultimate compliment!!

So, if you have a perspective on the creative or communicative properties of photographs, I'm keen to hear from you. If you want to discuss the merits of the latest digicam, I just remembered that I have to count my loose change and take it to the bank .......