Photo Lucida

This week I'm up in Portland for Photo Lucida, a photography conference which features 4 days of portfolio reviews (see above). Imagine spending the day either having a crit, or waiting to have one.

Why am I doing this?

Besides the obvious reasons, it's the land of opportunities in ways you might not think of. First, I've learned a lot about the current work I'm doing. Four to five times a day I've got to sit down with a stranger and explain who I am and what they're looking at. There's something about that process that helps you understand what you've been doing and why. Second, as a teacher I spend most of my time on the other side of the table and it's important to remember what it feels like to be scared of how others will receive my work. Finally, I get to meet a group of people who "get" me.

Get out there

Enjoy Spring Break...while you've got some time you might consider the following opportunities to get your photography out into the world.

The Center for Fine Art Photography has multiple "calls for entries" right now. An International Student show which is open to all students from high school through university levels, a Black and White show and an Alternatives show. The Center is located in Ft Collins, Colorado and is dedicated to photography as a creative form of expression.


Another great opportunity is being offered through The Photo Review, which is a highly acclaimed journal of photography. Their 2007 Photography Competition will be judged by Toby Jurovics, Curator of Photography at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Winners will be published in the Exhibition issue...which means thousands of people will see your work.

Entering competitions is a bit of a numbers game. When deciding what types of competitions to apply for: avoid high fees (over $30) and look for locations or jurors with good reputations.

Small steps add up

I guess I'm still thinking about how we make the jump from amateurs to professionals. It can feel like an overwhelming task . . . to the point where we become immobilized. My suggestion is that you try to do one "outreach" each week - start now while you're a student. It doesn't seem like much, but at the end of a year you would have 52 points of possible success.

Here's a suggestion for your first week:

Russell Joslin is editor and publisher of SHOTS Magazine. This quarterly publication is dedicated to b&w photography and combines unusual imagery with interesting interviews. Right now they have a call for entries, and it's an open themed issue - so you might consider it. I met Russell a few years ago and was impressed by his love of photography and his interest in promoting newer artists. Here's a link to his website: http://www.shotsmag.com/ . Submissions are due May 1st.

Good luck,

Networking - aka "it's who you know"

One bit of advice most newcomers receive is on the importance of building a "network" to help promote their photography. Often they are left with the idea that it's "who you know" that will be the key to their success...and they don't know anyone. So, how does a newcomer create a set of people who know their work? One of the best ways can be portfolio reviews. These are often free and are offered by a wide range of groups and events.

At the end of this month there's a great opportunity to have your work reviewed by a professional at the SILVER CONFERENCE (see the sidebar for more info). Think of it like speed-dating for photographers. You generally get 20 minutes to present your work to a reviewer and often you can sign-up for more than one. This is a good start on the process of starting to have a "network".

Here are a few tips for success:

1. Bring approximately 15-20 pieces that are all from a related group of work. Too broad a selection makes it difficult to address your "vision".

2. Loose prints are often the best way to go because the reviewer can pull individual ones out to compare or discuss. These can be in a clamshell box or other simple container.

3. If you do oversized prints (larger than 16x20) it's a good idea to make a smaller set with maybe one full sized version you can have off to the side. I know one photographer who shows a small portfolio but has one full-sized image that has been cut into quarters and can be easily reassembled to give the impact of a larger image without the bulk.

4. If you're showing transparencies or other work that has special needs, speak with the organizer ahead of time to see if you can set-up ahead of time.

5. Practice a short introduction to yourself and your work, then shut up and let the reviewer do their thing. It's okay to mention a few items as they look through, but most reviewers need time to process their thoughts.

6. Bring a notepad and business cards. If it's more of a professional situation, bring "leave-behinds" also.

7. Be on time. Good luck.