Originally posted at Diffusionmag.com

Ever since I began studying photography I’ve been told that ‘some day you’ll be good enough to show your portfolio at one of the great photography reviews that happen across the country’. I always sorta poo-pooed the idea as a student because for some reason I thought I didn’t need “professional” people telling what they liked, didn’t like, and how I could improve. I felt the most constructive criticism would come from my peers, those who were sitting along side me in this adventure, not from those looking down and handpicking the next trend or photographic Basquiat. I’ve always been a big fan of Creating Your Own Way.

What I didn’t understand was that those “professionals” WERE my peers. They may be just like me, they may have created their own way as well, they may be (or once been) a budding artist, galleriest, publisher, etc in their own right. In recent years I’ve discovered that sometimes these reviewers have really giving some great emerging photographers a chance at getting more exposure. If nothing else, the photographer has a chance to talk to professionals in their field about what sorts of things they look for. Say what you will, art IS a business. There are egos, favoritism, brown-nosing, and everything else that comes with any business – the difference is, these people really do care about good art, and sometimes even bad art, but that is another story.

This past month I finally attended my first portfolio review, but not as a reviewee, instead I was asked to be reviewer at PhotoNola 2010. I can honestly say that it was such an honor to be invited and I’m grateful to actually have opportunities available to some of the photographers in attendance. I’ve been looking at portfolios in droves since I established Plates to Pixels gallery (platestopixels.com) and of course my newest project Diffusion. After a few years of doing so I’m still excited to get that cd of images in the mail – it’s like my birthday! However, seeing the work in person is always preferred, and there’s no better setting than in a conference room with an open portfolio on a table, REAL prints, and face to face with the artist! I’m a very hands on person, those who know me understand my desire and interest in seeing the artist’s hand in their work, I can’t say it enough! I love the interaction created between viewer and artist when they both can see a tangible human connection.

I love the interaction created between viewer and artist when they both can see a tangible human connection.

Art to me is very emotional, even when it lacks it – there’s almost always something I can feel, even if it’s disappointment. But I digress, my point is I love having the tangible conversation with the art and artists who created it, which is why PhotoNola was so inspiring and exciting for me, not only as a portfolio reviewer but as an artist as well. It was also nice to meet some of the people behind the work I was so familiar with. This past year I was introduced to Lori Vrba‘s work because we were both fortunate enough to be juried into the The Light Factory Third Juried Annuale. (The caliber of work in the show was quite diverse and made for a very intriguing photography show). To my good fortune, on the first day of reviews, Lori Vrba is the first to sit down at my table (dumb luck actually, she wasn’t on my original schedule) and I was pleased have a peek at her new body of work the Piano Farm – what a great way to start my first leg of this new adventure! Coincidently she also had a one night exhibit in town on Sunday which was like the icing on the cake of an already fabulous weekend. Anyway, the next two days of reviews flowed so well I felt I could have done them for another few days. You’re sure to see some of my reviewees in upcoming NW exhibits, in Diffusion Volume III & IV, and at Plates to Pixels Gallery.

A HUGE shout out goes to the staff working PhotoNola 2010, your passion and dedication for this project is relentless and should not go unnoticed. Your volunteering, organizing, and dealing with a bunch of high-maintenance artists and reviewers is exceptional. My hats off to you!! Thanks for making my first portfolio review, and trip to New Orleans, such a memorable one!

Oh and L+V…thanks for making me feel like a rock star, your checks in the mail.

See Jennifer Schwartz’s post on the Piano Farm exhibit here: http://littleurl.info/farm and read David Bram’s (Fraction magazine) review of the wonderous exhibit here http://littleurl.info/dbonfarm

To be continued…