Photo Books

I feel like photo books are a tricky thing. I don't know why though. Being an established photographer is hard enough, than having to deal with your work being published? I feel like thats a ton more work in an area unknown to me. Which just reminds me to research, and find out how this happens! ***Motivation in play.***

When I am in a book store I'm pretty sure I always end up looking at all these photo books. I love photography so, why not look at other artists work? It would be stupid not to. And that is why we as photographers take photos, to share what we saw!! I guess it is a sort of respect I have for other photographers. To actually look at their work, take it in, and think about what I am looking at.

My boyfriend happened to show me a book he had, and he said it was something he thought would interest me. It was a photo book, and a small one at that. I initially did the "oh, no." Don't ask me why I had such a weird reaction to this photo book at first glance.

The book is called "The Regulars."

Sarah Stolfa


The intro was hilarious only because it was so realistic with Jonathan Franzen's distaste for Philadelphia, and he wasn't afraid to show it. I liked the portraits. However, I must mention that portrait photography is not my thing at all. It's not my preferred style of photography at all. When I think of portrait photography I think of studio lighting, backdrops, sales, crappy poses, and the forced smile that one is supposed to make when the photographer says: "SMILE!" I'm into capturing someone naturally, avoiding the "Ham" aspect of portraits. I tend not to want to take pictures of camera-whores. People who throw up the some crazy fingers meaning whatever the hell it's supposed to mean, the duck faces, and the other crazy faces that are made to make pictures ridiculous. I am in love with photos where the subjects don't even realize they are being photographed. They happen to be in the zone at the moment, or truly have no idea a camera is around. When a person is aware that the camera is there I think it affects the outcome immediately. There are some grey areas to that though. If you have a person that honestly does not care if a camera is in front of them or not, and they can truly be themselves regardless...than my friends, you may have some special subjects! I get that feeling when I look at the portraits in this photo book. You can feel the real-ness of the photos. You can feel the stress of the day that the subject had that particular day, even the great day they had, or just how a certain subject looks at life. I found myself feeling a different way when looking at each portrait. I'd say she did a great job just based on my emotions alone.

A photo book has been something I have thought of, but thats an adventure I would have to thoroughly look into. I'd love to have my own work published! That'd be amazing to be quite honest. Although, sometimes I feel like I'm still an infant when it comes to being a photographer.

There is some research to be done, and I intend to look into this.

Organizing an Art Show

I wanted to give an update on my involvement in the Salmagundi club. This fine art club has a lot of committees. Since I am a new scholarship member I wanted to join the Junior/Scholarship member committee. I think being in a club like this one should be as active as possible. Yes, I am going to use the cliché phrase: “What you put into it is what you get out of it.” This phrase definitely rings true. I think, if you are accepted into a great club like this why not be as involved and as active as you can in EVERYTHING you can?

The committee basically decides what happens with the Junior/Scholarship members, for example putting on shows, setting up events, networking opportunities, I know you get it. A lot goes on. 

I was voted into Salmagundi in February of this year, and I went to the first General club meeting in April (any, and all members) than I was at the first Junior/scholarship committee meeting just this past June.  The committee head, Patricia Wynne, who, I will say is such a sweet woman. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I love it! She mentioned how she had an opportunity to have our work in a gallery in NYC, because the owner had a block of time with no scheduled shows! This to me was a giant big deal. For those that might not understand why, I’ll explain.

Being a fine artist, and tapping into the realm of trying to get people to see, and buy your work is very hard. You need as much exposure as you can! That means art shows, art festivals, galleries, web contests, anything! There’s a lot of different ways to get your work seen.  I think a lot of fine artists want to make a living off their artwork, right? Well, getting your work in art shows, exhibitions, and galleries is one way to do it. 

I jumped to the chance when she said she needed someone to step up and help organize and contact the owner to work out details of the show. Now, I must tell you that I never have organized anything like this before, and I was nervous!! All I knew is if I want to own a gallery one day I needed to learn how all of this is done. I had to learn, and this was a great place to start! I told Patricia how new I was to the club, and how new I was to even the fine art realm of photography, and I had expressed how nervous I was about it. She was very comforting, and had a confidence in me. I don’t know, but she didn’t make me feel like I couldn’t make this happen.

Of course a lot of communication happens through emails. She gave me the gallery info, and told me I had to set up a meeting with the owner to discuss the show. I was at a loss as to what I should be asking him. Hahaha. I was busy, and I kept forgetting to call the owner. I finally did it last week. Not much time had past. I didn’t procrastinate too much. I called the gallery, and funny thing was, she was there. I spoke with her on the phone, and asked her really quick about the details I should be ironing out with him at the meeting. She gave a quick list, and I made sure to get all of that down so I didn’t forget.

I set up the meeting with the owner, and met up with him at the gallery Tuesday (07/16/2013) A small gallery, but he has been in business for 30 years. He must be doing something right. We discussed all aspects of the show. Some of the things to keep in mind when setting up an art show:

~How many pieces can fit in the space provided?

~Size limits of artwork

~Theme, if any

~Determine the commission the gallery gets from each sale

~Opening Day, how long the artwork will be up, and when it needs to be taken down.

~Invitation design, and when they need to go out

~How much time the gallery needs to display all the artwork

~When all artwork has to submitted to the gallery

~Price list to all artwork

~Printed bios from all artists

~Details of the opening (drinks/food/reception details)

~Mailing lists

Those were all the things discussed at this meeting. I definitely learned a great deal from this one meeting.

The Art show will be at Mehu Gallery.  Located at 21 W. 100^th street, New York, NY, 10025. Opening day is September 19^th, 2013. Artwork will be up till October 13^th. 

I’m really excited!! I haven’t decided what photographs to enter yet. I definitely will give it a ton of thought. The Junior/Scholarship committee is meeting next week so, there might be a theme, and there might not be one. Just in case before I decide what I want to enter I’ll wait to see if members want a specific theme/style/genre of artwork to be displayed.

I have to mention that Patricia being a friend of the gallery owner, and her being there when I called was funny enough,
but what this whole situation told me was that this committee, and the club was really to get us, the New Artist Members, the experience we are essentially looking for, and need to be successful artists. She could have just as easily set up this show herself. She provided the opportunity. It was up to one of us to step up. I must thank her for it, that’s for sure!

The Junior/Scholarship members have a show we have to set up to take place at the actual club.  Which is right on 5^th ave. We jury all artwork, and plan the show ourselves. The great thing about this show is that it’s a bit bigger, and all artists can enter artwork, not just Salmagundi members.  Another great thing is that it’s the first art show after the long awaited renovations are completed! We are the first show of the year, and the first to use the new gallery space in the club!

All this is very surreal to me. I love being involved, and having something like this to help me along my path to my own goals.  There’s a lot happening, and I couldn’t be happier.

Photographs: More than just a Moment.

I know that I have tackled the question of what makes a photographer. I get into a number of things that separate the fakes from the real deals. Now, I'm going to go a step further.

There are REAL photographers, than there are the photographers that change the world. These photographers are world renowned for a reason. They go way past the glamour. They have gone far beyond a comfort level many of us will never encounter, or understand. Their lives have actually been at risk. They go into the areas most wont.

Why?

Throughout my life, I have be able to see and do some great things. I set goals, and I achieve them. I remember how I set the goal to make it to Australia. Getting to Australia was a pipe dream. People from the lower east side of Buffalo barely get to the other side of town let alone to a country on the other side of the world! It was a long process, but I got there! I was extremely happy. I set out to do something, it was a hard road, but I finally made it. I was the happiest girl in the world. Once that happens, once goals are met I feel like something strange occurs within a person. I took care of me, I was having fun, doing what I wanted to do, but all I kept thinking was, "I want to do something that matters in the world." I wanted to, I don't know, make a difference, do something meaningful, or at least good ya know?  It was almost as if I was done living in my pleasure bubble.  I joined a conservation group while I was away on my exchange program in Australia. I got to plant trees! It was a small thing, but hey, trees are important!

That "I want to make a difference" feeling consumes several people around this globe. Photographers included. Successful photographers spend such a long time getting to their ultimate goal (whatever that may be) than they achieve their goals, and I think that's where the feeling to give back comes in.

How the hell CAN photographers make a difference in this world?

I've heard some photographers say, "Oh, all I do is just take pictures." I always hated to hear those types of things. I mentioned in previous posts how capturing a memory can really affect so many people. They'll have the memory for years to come. You, the photographer, created and made that image part of history. That person in their time of sorrow can look back at a loved one that has passed, and remember and re-live how beautiful they were. A person can be having the worst day of their lives, look at a picture, and feel just a little bit better. I will even go as far as to say that photographers have saved lives by preventing someone from committing suicide. These things, in fact have happened. If that isn't making a difference I don't know what is.

I went to a the NYC photo expo Fall 2012,  and I loved it! Of course I did. I saw a post card promoting this documentary about glaciers. The promotions kept mentioning how stunning the images were. I spent some time in Alaska so, I was immediately sold. I HAD to see this movie!! Without even knowing the true point to why this documentary was made. There was some specials screenings, I kept missing the ones they had in NYC. I kept checking where it would be playing. I finally saw it. I happen to find it late Sunday night (7/7/2013) on Netflix. I was tired, but as soon as I saw it, I was determined to stay up, and watch every minute.


The documentary was called "Chasing Ice." It is covering a photographer, James Balog on his mission to capture the current state and the continuing depletion of the world's glaciers. He has always felt very connected to nature, being able to capture it in a such an in-your-face way. But he also has done his research he gets into the science of it all. When you hear him speak in the documentary, his passion definitely comes across strong, and you begin to really feel how he feels. However, covering glaciers you're going to jump right into the Global Warming Controversy. Ya know, the whole... oh it was a big deal, but oh, now apparently scientists don't agree, wait a minute- there really isn't anything wrong with our Earth. Blah. Blah. Blah. I think the people who experienced Hurricane Sandy will beg to differ. I will refrain from getting too into all the crazy weather we have been having for the past few years. Balog sets out to actually document the amount the glaciers are receding. I could get into the science of it all, but I want you to watch it, and take it all in there. He wanted to take a picture once every hour (during daylight) for an extended period of time. I think he ended up doing somewhere around 3 years. and time-lapse all of it! Yes, its about an Ice survey. Yes, the images are absolutely breath taking. Yes, it was shot great. Yes, there is a great story here. BUT... what he does is provide crystal clear evidence of what is happening on our planet.



He was a photographer that wanted to show the world the problem. He wanted to alleviate all of the nonsense going around in the media, and maybe lessen the confusion that surronds this Global Warming issue. He wanted to make a difference. People dont know what to believe anymore, and he provided the proof. There are stills that are taken and you can compare one or two photos, but to see the evidence in this way hit a bit closer to home.

He's not the only photographer to ever do this. By no means. There are so many photographers' photos that have changed the way we have looked at social issues, and events happening on our planet. They've given the masses the reality check needed when the country was at war, and the American public was safely back home in their own little bubble totally oblivious to what is happening in the world wound them. They put the problems from around the globe right in the faces that refused to believe such horrible things were actually materializing, and lingering for years to come. They provide the shock value, and the dose of reality that needs to be had for the more advantaged in this country, and overseas.

Iraqi War Prisoner

Starving Child and Vulture

Napalm Accident Tragedy

The photographs above are famous for a reason. They are the reality no one wants to admit. There are a lot of things that exist in this world, and actions that are taking place right now that people do not want to realize. We have to live right?? We have to somehow be able to lead happy lives, be able to raise our kids, and think our children have a chance in this world. When I get to thinking about all the crazy messed up things in this world that are happening right as I type this, it is such an overwhelming feeling, and one of despair. It's because I can't fix any of it quickly. We all are part of the solution, and we can do small things to get to the goals we set for the world we live in. Whether its dealing with pollution, famine, war, or the climate change that is scaring the the crap out of everyone. We have to stop thinking "oh, I'm only (fill in the blank) I can't really do much." I don't believe that for a second. Each person is important, has a role, and affects a great deal throughout just a single day.

Never underestimate a passion, talent, or a love of something you want to do with your life.
Photographers don't just take photos, they directly affect the world around them.