Saturday
Jan232010
My first photography exhibition
January 23, 2010 * * * * * Posted by: Petra 
I just finished framing 21 photos for our TEMA-exhibition this upcoming weekend, and I am wondering: why do I do it? I am not particularly fond of framing and I am not very good at promoting my work.
Concerning my art I like to think that I do what I do for the love of doing it, not for the result. Therefore it is not important for anyone to see it and it doesn’t matter what others think of it, in fact I might as well throw it away after making it, because I already had my fun and am done with it. But I don’t throw it away, I save it, even worse I frame it and exhibit it, why?
Framing gave me time to think about it, and this is what I came up with:
As I said I am in it for the doing, not for the result. But I want to grow, learn, get better. Doing the same trick over and over again gets boring and eventually would make me quit. That is the first reason for saving my work, to look at it over a period of time and compare. Have I grown? Is my work better than a year ago? And why or why not? What is good about it, what isn’t. Do I look at it differently a year later?
Preparing for the exhibition, forced me to review my work, what is good enough to frame? What is the best work of the past year and why? The exhibition has room for about 20 photographs. This means not only do I need to select my favourites, they also have to be well-matched.
I got help from someone whose opinion I value highly, and something strange happened. He picked shots that I never noticed. And he could explain why he picked them, what he liked about them and he opened my eyes about them and I learned. But then he selected pictures, that I had valued as being okay, but I think they are boring and I don’t want them to represent me at the exhibition. I want to present the shots that thrill me, not the perfect, often boring, shots.
And after going thru them again and again and again, I finally decided on the best ones. And what surprised me most is, if you see them together, that they are in line, sort of consistent. And I am wondering: Is this my style, my trademark, me? I don’t know, but I am beginning to like my top 21 more and more and once framed, I’m pretty pleased, it’s looking good, I feel fine.
And at this moment, I feel I already learned a lot from this experience and found the strengths and weaknesses in my photography and figured out which way to go from here. And although the exhibition hasn’t even started yet, I had my fun and my lessons in doing. It already has been an experience worthwhile.
Now lets see what I can learn form the visitors reactions at the exhibition this upcoming weekend.
Reader Comments (18)
It sounds like a really good and worthwhile exercise, Petra. I look at my photos on my laptop all the time, reviewing them - flagging the keepers and giving them a star rating, deleting the bad ones. But then to see them printed out is quite different and sometimes my opinion changes. It is good to keep the old, so that you can see how much you've progressed, see if there is a particular theme or something you like consistently like to shoot - learn what your vision is. Really excellent post, Petra. Congrats on the exhibition! May there be many red dots!
Morning Petra. First of all, I LOVE ducks so I think your picture is wonderful :) We hand-raised some Muscovy ducks, one of them - Donald - I know, not very original, is sitting at my feet as I type.
I think it must be a wonderful exercise to go through and look back over all your picture; choosing the ones you love, the ones that 'fit'. And as you say, out of this you start to see clearly your style. That must give you a great deal of satisfaction. Thumbs and fingers crossed for your exhibition and as Toni says, here's to lots of red dots!!!
What a wonderful image of the ducks as they take off and fly. And - I have to say that altho I went thru much of the same questioning and soul-searching the first time I exhibited my so-called 'work' - in the end I found it satisfying and rewarding. I learned that people really appreciate your sharing what you see and capture thru your camera lens. Good luck!!! Am hoping it is everything you wish for..and more.
Ah, this topic is certainly a thought provoking one; one I recently experienced as well.
It is truly amazing to see one's work printed on high quality paper from a professional grade printer, matted and framed. That process alone brings new life to each piece. And then, to select pieces that represent a body of work brings even more depth to ones work.
I agree that we first create for ourselves, but having others "appreciate" our work is rewarding as well.
Congratulations on the exhibition.
First of all, Petra, I love the ethereal feel to your image, especially with the distant fog. It reminds me of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, for some reason. I love it.
Secondly, I can't imagine putting on an exhibition and having to narrow down a choice of my images to 21. That would be almost impossible for me. I'm very certain I'd be stunned by what a professional would choose and eliminate. I'm always shocked at my photo site by what people appear to really like above other images. So, good for you to have accepted this journey of discovery. I had hoped Astrid and I could attend, but now with our wedding date the next week and her need to heal from her broken arm, we will stay put. Too much going on. But one day we will meet you, I'm certain of it. I have told Astrid I want to explore every square inch of Holland, which will mean includung your neck of the woods. :) Congratulations and great success!
i love this shot of the ducks -- such a fantastic second in time and such a perfect capturing of motion.
i'm right now pondering many of the same things as you -- to print or not to print, to exhibit or not to exhibit. i have to admit to a still small voice in the back of my head that says "look at this! look at this!" because i want to share my vision with others. but there is also the desire just to see my work in another form, other than on the computer or in a small format.
good luck with the exhibition!
Oh Petra, this is lovely and wonderful on so many levels. The photo is perfect, the words say all of those things that swirl in my head too. I seriously think that my comments on this site are going to boil down to simply writing "YES" every day. I am astounded by how similar we all are.
i love this image. it has sound. the startled ducks, the flapping wings. is there any way we can see the exhibit on line? i am so intrigued now. your words do ring true for so many of us. congratulations.
Congratulations Petra. I abosolutely love the photo. I've been folloiwng and enjoying your series of fog over at your place. I'm not where you are yet as far as exhibiting my work but I am happy to wait, listen, and learn.
I love this image of the ducks taking of to explore new things. As you are experiencing now with the preparation of an exhibition. I have never been near to have an exhibition of my own but I love to go and look at others.
I love that photo with all it's movement.
Congratulations on getting your work ready for the exhibition and good luck with it.
This is a great photo with lots to consider. Amazingly, the ducks have a 3-D appearance even on my old screen, and the road leading into the mist is a great metaphor, too. Taking inventory of one's talent is a life-long, learning experience. You take your talent seriously, and it show. Farmergal
congratulations and I hope it continues to be an enjoyable experience.
i spoke out loud a big OH! the moment i opened up the site and saw this image. it is a wonderful shot full of squawking and flapping, color and 'sound' as margie said. the sound of wings as only ducks have. i wish you well on your exhibition and i hope we all get to hear your comments on the experience as it unfolds.
what abeuatiful shot!!! I can't wait to see more! I'm the lucky one, who can visit your exhibition in real life! I wish you lots of red dots;-)
I am here a day late - no computer yesterday - and like so many others I said a big OH! when this image popped up on screen, and also like so many others, it felt 3 dimensional to me, as if I'd stepped into a movie. What a fabulous exhibition you must have and I only wish I could see it, stand in front of the images and be drawn in. I love this. A lot! :)
Love the picture of the ducks ... great shot!
spectacular shot!
good luck if the exhibit has not happened yet. if it has, i hope it went well.