New York March NYC Meet-Up

ptpdprinter said:
You could spend a lifetime and a fortune seeking validation through photo contests. Where to even begin.
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PTP,

I have done this decades ago except as a painter. Back then I saw how the numbers are against me and I stopped.

It is out of being older, stubborn and perhaps even more determined that I try again. Not really looking for validation, just trying to get my work some exposure, and as a fine art printer the Internet is not the best way to display my work.

I have a feeling that I won't waste too much time here. Just going through the paces. I knew decades ago I'd better have a day-job, and now I have some financial security and a way to retire.

Cal
 
**Un-gear alert**
It was a interesting weekend I sold all my Hasselblad equipment, I broke
up the system and it was the best way of selling a Hasselblad.
 
Calzone said:
Another rejection. Last month the New York Portfolio Review that had 2800 applicants, and this month the En Foco Fellowship that was limited to "people of color" and only had 165 applicants.

There were 100 slots for the NYT Portfolio Reviews and only ten Fellowships for En Foco.

Cost nothing but time and effort to apply. A lot of thinking goes into the required writing, and it does strengthen one's resolve and character.

It does come down to what Mark Cuban said; you need three things to become a billionaire: one is be smart; two is to be hard working; and three the most important of all is to be lucky.

Seems like what he said also applies in art.

Yesterday did a shoot of 5 models in Dumbo. The main event was the video which was handled by Peter, someone I worked with before. I knew or met 4 out of the 5 models. Anyways we all worked for free and collaborated in support of a designer friend who does knitwear.

During hair and makeup (also done for free) I got to know these friends better. Pretty much we all struggle. One pretty model has been doing modeling for a decade. She alluded that she also does other work to get by. Others are like me with day jobs. Pretty much a strong sense of community exists where we all help each other to survive.

No doubt we all work hard, but we are waiting for that lucky break...

Cal
Click to expand...

I've heard this before, it really comes down to who you know to creek that
door open. there are people who work hard all their lives and can't make it and other who have that luck at being in the right place at the right time
and make it big.
 
Range-rover said:
I've heard this before, it really comes down to who you know to creek that
door open. there are people who work hard all their lives and can't make it and other who have that luck at being in the right place at the right time
and make it big.
Click to expand...

Bob,

I know I'm already a lucky guy. I'm just trying to increase my odds.

Interesting to note that my pursuits in painting, performance art, have been a close, but no cigar a few times. Like getting nominated, but never ever winning the award. Pretty much would of changed my life.

Had the Editor of the Hudson Review (Paula Deitz) select a story I wrote, but it did not pass their review board. Publishing a story in the Hudson Review would of reversed things and Literary Agents would of tracked me down. Perhaps my story got rejected because it was sad.

I was on the short list to attend the Breadloaf Writers' conference. In this conference you have to be invited to attend. Pretty much you end up either with an agent, an editor, or a book deal if you can attend. I was put on a waiting list in case there was a cancilation, then there would have been a slot for me. Only about 235 people get invited each year.

Performed off-Broadway at Second Stage Theater, Also performed at the Joseph Papp Public Theater.

Anyways I'm mighty stubborn... LOL.

Cal
 
Last night the "option" (reserving a date) became a "call" and all of the sudden "Maggie" will be jet setting first class to L.A. for a shoot over the weekend. Her new NYC agent secured this gig. Initially they did not want to pay much, but he negociated a nice healthy fee.

Maggie's old agent, Elite London, did not have many contacts in the U.S. or in New York. Their business was rather limited to mostly Europe, and other branches that cover other continents evidently don't get along. Not the most responsive either because they are kinda big.

So with travel Maggie found out that she had double booked. Luckily the second gig had not firmed up and they were able to reschedule.

From En Foco I did get the opportunity to get a portfolio review from them. I responded to the e-mail to sign up for this generous offer of support. En Foco has been around since 1974.

I take ownership that I'm not really a photojournalist, and I'm more of a street photographer who archives. I also consider myself a fine art printer, even though it is limited to only B&W. The New York Times Portfolio Review and also En Foco were both more aligned with photojournalism as their POV.

Anyways this exercise has helped me find my voice and my identity.

The next possible rejection is for a studio residency in Dumbo. About a thousand people apply for 17 studios, and from my data mining they are all fine artists that are painters, print makers, and sculptors. As far as I can mine not one photographer. Perhaps I'll be the first.

So here I am playing the lottery. I was taught in art school never to pay for an exhibit, but many do art fairs, others form co-op galleries, and many pay fees to stab in the dark.

I have three images for the L.A. billboard competition where the fees collected are used to pay for the public display of the selected winning images. This required permission for any model in my shots. I submitted a shot of the Highline at dusk that John is in. I hope he does not mind. Another is of "Maggie" coming down subway stairs at night in leather pants and a vintage S-Scott-A blazer and boots. My iconic panoramic shot of the Domino Sugar Refinery is the third shot.

I think the best possibility is the shot of Maggie. Perhaps not such a remote possibility. Also know it is a color shot. This is new for me. It is just that the color shot is better than the B&W image. I paid fees to submit.

For anyone interested "The Fence" has an opportunity. $35.00 fee for up to 5 images. The challenge here is that all winners present a social cause and story/narritive in the images. Possibility of having your work seen in now eight cities.

My way of entering these competitions that require money is there has to be a big reward like mucho exposure. My budget is low for spending money so the payoff has to be rather grand to be worth my while. As the weather gets nicer I won't have time to waste with this random stabbing. I'll be concentrating on my shooting shortly.

Cal
 
Funny thing about contests. I have submitted to a few (less than ten in as many years) and was rejected by all except three. Two were really 1/2 a rejection as my picture was accepted for the "online" not the brick-and-mortar gallery, or was a "finalist" but not a winner or runner-up. The third was a runner-up that included being featured in a print magazine (now defunct).

Contests that demand payment and offer "exposure" in return are suspect. Lens Culture is notorious for promulgating this scam and it's surprising that venerable institutions like Magnum and well-known gallerists and curators have affiliated themselves with LC. Money talks nobody walks.

Apparently some contests expect you to enter year after year and, if you have strong work, you will eventually become familiar to the judges and win or place.

Best of luck to anyone who wishes to swim with those sharks.
 
gdmcclintock said:
Funny thing about contests. I have submitted to a few (less than ten in as many years) and was rejected by all except three. Two were really 1/2 a rejection as my picture was accepted for the "online" not the brick-and-mortar gallery, or was a "finalist" but not a winner or runner-up. The third was a runner-up that included being featured in a print magazine (now defunct).

Contests that demand payment and offer "exposure" in return are suspect. Lens Culture is notorious for promulgating this scam and it's surprising that venerable institutions like Magnum and well-known gallerists and curators have affiliated themselves with LC. Money talks nobody walks.

Apparently some contests expect you to enter year after year and, if you have strong work, you will eventually become familiar to the judges and win or place.

Best of luck to anyone who wishes to swim with those sharks.
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George,

Call me shark bait, and a delusional artist, but I'm paying the $35.00 fee for the "Fence." Part of it is vanity because there is a possibility of my 5 photos getting mucho exposure in eight cities. Really only worth while if you have work that has a chance.

At Photoville I studied the Fence carefully and I took note that there was a spine of social cause in most of the work submitted, so this evidently is not so much about IQ, content, or just being a great photograph, but is about social commentary. In fact the written element is mucho important.

Also it seems that galleries feed into exhibition history. What ever happened to good photography?

It is all a game. Ha-Ha. It actually would be funny if I won. LOL.

The L.A. Billboard competition is also another funny one. First thing I will do if I win is laugh. Doing this one because my friend Sara thought of my monster prints.

Seems more likely I'll get hit by a cab in Madhattan or killed by a terrorist that get any artistic recognition. This actually already has me laughing. It is no joke.

Cal
 
467K followers. Because of a Buzz-Feed interview about 100K followers came over an 8 day period. After the initial surge the bumps became less and trickeled down to be about 1K per day. This Buzz-Feed interview is responsible for about 200K new followers.

The Cosmopolitan that was shot in December 2016 video was reposted on their Cosmopolitan's online platform.

For The Fence I engineered a story out of five shots. I selected one of two shots of a Trayvor Martin flyer advertising a justice rally in the Bronx.

It was later that day John and I stumbled into "Orlando" in Harlem. We learned from Orlando, who we kinda just bumped into in the street, that George Zimmerman had just been acquitted of second degree murder and manslaughter charges.

Orlando got right in our faces and pointed out our privilege, our entitlement, our preferred status, the general benefit of the doubt we are granted because of race, and other advantages held over people like him: a black man.

Orlando was enraged and hot headed. I asked him his name to somewhat diffuse the situation, and eventually shot 4 consecutive shots that show a rather animated man. These 4 images needed the context and reference to Trayvor Martin to present a deeper meaning.

The 250 word work statement I wrote will be presented with these 5 images if I make the cut. This application accually was a bit of an engineering project because the words and text had to work together to form an engaging compelling narrative.

In the writing I downplayed that Orlando I suspect was drunk or high on something else, that's why his character was hyper annimated. I did not reveal that Orlando was a self proclaimed street criminal that seemed to be very well know by the locals passing by, and that he inquired if we were looking for first drugs then sex.

"I have to do what I have to do," he said.

The post processing of these images was difficult. The shots were taken under July sun just after 2:00 PM. Very high contrast and with a black man as a subject. Orlando wears a black T-shirt with a Phaser from Star Trek with the caption "Don't Phase Me Bro."

In one shot I have Orlando pointing his finger like a gun to his lips signaling to John, "Shut-up" and in the corner of the vertical shot is John's right hand with his finger pointing at Orlando like a handgun.

The title of this shot is "Three Guns."

The meta data indicates I shot these images within seconds of each other. Some only a second apart.

Anyways it makes a powerful statement and visual.

Cal
 
Lyn ("Maggie") said "People think as we age we become invisible" . Damn, that'll be a big help in street photography! Now If that's true and I could have The Shadow's power to could minds, I'd be the best street photographer ever !
 
MrFujicaman said:
Lyn ("Maggie") said "People think as we age we become invisible" . Damn, that'll be a big help in street photography! Now If that's true and I could have The Shadow's power to could minds, I'd be the best street photographer ever !
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MFM,

Really we live in a youth driven culture. That's what she is talking about.

Kinda funny how the demographics of her followers are young people who take ownership that they are afraid of getting old and aging.

Both Maggie and I could not be happier. We both are happier now than when we were younger.

As far as being invisible I have always stood out so it was hard to hide, even in a crowd. Basically I exploit being a freak, and my approach is being more active and engaging in the street. Christian thinks I have a link to when I was formerly a performance artist because I actively engage with people and explore.

I don't really stake out territory like most street photographers. I kinda wander around.

Cal
 
I submitted a feature I wrote covering the 2018 Camera Carnival to my Editor at the Camera Chronicle.

I took a lot of shots to cover the event also.

Already got some positive feedback from my editor. I was wondering is my self effacing humor and goofy spin would be appreciated. Anyways I took some risk. Not everybody has a sense of humor. LOL.

Also yesterday I got my Passport. I inquired about going to Seattle during Spring Break, but it looks like the call did not come through. Also next month is this big trip to Mad-Rid. Still no date and I don't know for how long a trip.

I really-really hate living life on standby. This is typical in the world of fashion.

Cal
 
So I'm going to Mad-Rid in April. They pretty much book you for a "Weather Day" that basically a paid day off. I'll be doing luxury and all will be paid for. Pretty much will be staying at a hotel that formally was a Spanish Prince's Palace. Seattle did not firm up. Iceland is still open.

Maggie likely just landed at JFK. She took the Red-Eye and has another gig tonight. This trip to L.A. will be for TV commercial, print, and online. Should be out in early April. This shoot involved a huge crew, a cast of 6-7, and mucho extras. This could add a lot more followers...

The smut from the stylist is most people exaggerate how petite they are, and this is a problem because then the clothes collected for a shoot are then too small.

Pretty much the world is not that big and many of these people on the set knew people Maggie worked with. Pretty much it is a bit like incest because it is all becoming one family of people.

So in May I'll learn about the studio residency, the Fence, and the billboard competition. I think I'm done filling out applications for a while. I'll just wait and see.

Cal
 
467K followers. Things have leveled off it seems.

As usual I was late for work this morning, and today very late. On my walk I found a pile of books to cull through and found 4 books worth reading. Found a 25 cent piece from Barbados, and some kinda heavy token from1 Hotels with the markings < and LESS. This token feels heavy as if made of silver. Now I have to do forensics.

Bought a copy of the Spanish nespaper "El Dario" to practice my Spanish. About 20 years ago I use to be nearly fluent. Basically I had Latinos ask me where I was from because I lacked a Gringo accent. LOL.

A feature film is coming called "Shine" about East Harlem. Saw some previewed footage and imediately recognized the street art just up the block. The story displays the local culture through music and dance and the theme is about gentrification via two brothers who grew up in the neighborhood. One left for L.A. to be a dancer, he comes back to get reacquainted with his brother who is involved with redevelopment.

Kane and Able except with a ghetto twist. This film will be released soon. Pretty much an art film I would expect will play at the Angelika.

Cal
 
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