Cal ,
I'd be very careful about who reviews your photography. Photography is a highly fragmented field with many aesthetic trends , most critique is highly dependent on personal criteria as well as fads and structures of domination within the field. You'll get entirely different evaluations from different reviewers, and I can imagine that a negative or positive review can have damaging , maybe castrating, effect on your work.
I had my photography reviewed only once, by a well-known Swedish photographer whose initials are A.P., as part of a 3-day workshop that included full critiques of the works of 9 other participants. I'm not prepared at all to have my work reviewed formally unless its someone whose judgement I trust entirely and whose outlook I generally align with (I don't mind other reviews its just that I won't seek them and I'll give them no weight)
Philippe
Philippe,
Thanks for your insights. I acknowledge your points.
I went to art school and even though it was an undergraduate program it was set up like a graduate MFA program which was set up with monthly "Art Tutorials." This involved peer review as well as academic (professors) and at time was very blunt and harsh. Really unforgiving, but builds a lot of character, convictions and strength.
Some students choose other majors. Art was no longer fun anymore. BTW some of this blunt harsh criticism was really helpful. My photography professor sternly spoke to me privately and asked why I did things at the last minute at the last minute right before the monthly tutorials.
"You have real talent, and you are better than that. Tell me you do your best work under a deadline and at the last minute. I really expect better from you because you have talent."
This is when I learned a lot about how to be a serious artist, and to take myself seriously. The above lesson really informed me.
Another professor named Ken was this intimadating jazz professor who I judged as mean. He made people cry in his class, people would drop out left and right, and one day I stopped by his office to ask him why he was so mean. He had me sit down and we had a talk. Ken was a Basson player and he yelled at the students. Pretty much was a bully, but he explained to me that these students that were not serious ones he wanted to drop out.
He told me he wanted only the muscians that were serious and who wanted to be like Louis Armstrong and take 2 years out of their life to dedicate themselves to music and the only thing important to live for was music. I decided that Ken spoke some truth and I made an important decision when I was 19, to be a visual artist. I soon dropped out of the music program.
These men kinda informed me, nurtured me, and changed my life. I learned to be serious and committed to an internal life of struggle.
Pretty much I'm doing this Portfolio Review as an "exercise" because I really don't seem to fit in anywhere, this is the story of my life, and in my case I'm cool with that. I realize that very few people know about, understand, or see any meaning to my work. Pretty much I expect no difference or any miracle. This is the real truth and the harsh reality.
Truthfully I don't see many galleries where my work fits in. A lot of the "Fine Art" work I see represented is so vastly digitally manipulated that I would say the image is no longer a photograph. I understand that I am old school and what I do is somewhat documentary and archival.
Don't call me a photojournalist, which to me is a way overused term.
At Photoville I see how they promote social issues/conciousness. I don't see my work fitting in there. They deal with big issues like climate change, wars, refugees, atrocities, oppressions, injustices...
Anyways thanks for your concerns. They are not without merit. I'm at a point though that is way beyond cynical. If a gallery wanted to represent me I would likely refuse. I don't need the exposure or affirmation that my work is worthy, and I have deep feelings about paying a 50% commision on any sales. Pretty much for a 50% commission I expect an art dealer to come to my apartment to scrub my toilet because I don't see the value here.
Like I said before I don't see many places where I think my work fits in.
Had a talk with "Maggie" last night. After dedicating her life to a career of trying to make a better world, helping people, and improving society in a job as Social Worker and Professor making no money, now with her using her fashion blog, her artistic direction, and her creativity the money and getting wealthy is mighty important to her.
I inquired because for me the exact opposite is true. I compromised my artistic career to some extent to build a sustainable life and for some comfort. I have no need for getting wealthy, no need for getting paid for my creative work, nor after seeing what happened to Maggie I don't want to be famous, well known or A-listed.
So I have a strong footing. I have no expectation, there can be no artistic despair, and know that I'm really happy the way things are with me keeping my work somewhat to myself.
No sweat off my balls. Pretty much in retirement I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
Cal
