Workshop Success - Neither Rain, Nor Snow, etc.

Photographers can be a hearty lot - Snow, freezing roads, slush, ice-cold rain - all pretty unpleasant stuff, but for the two workshops held at Through This Lens presented by Margo Taussig Pinkerton and Arnold Zann AKA Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures - or Margo and Arnie as they are less formally known - the weather was barely a hindrance. I had memories of those three consecutive big snows when I was seven years old, that kept me out of the second grade for nearly two weeks. Those were only memories, and the recent weather was not a show stopper for the dynamic teaching duo. In fact, Sunday, January 27th, the students spent the morning at Duke Gardens shooting the frosty remnants of the snow and ice. After a couple of hours with their cameras, they returned to the gallery to edit and share their work during a compassionate but honest critique.

These were serious photo workshops and serious students. The presentations and activities were very well organized. The students came from as far away as Cincinnati. I've spent the past 20 years teaching various computer applications, yet I gained a lot from sitting in, between customers and other gallery duties. If you were not able to attend, please take a look at Margo and Arnie's web site and consider one of their workshops. You'll work hard, and be happy that you did.

For Margo and Arnie, it was their first time teaching in the Triangle area. They have not previously held their Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures workshops any closer than the Outer Banks of North Carolina - which also happens to be the subject of the current exhibition at the Through This Lens. If you want to see it, The Yin and Yang of the Outer Banks, then stop in by March 2nd. You can also see all the images in small format by going to http://www.throughthislens.com/barefootcontessa/barefootcontessa.html and clicking through the links underneath each pair of Margo and Arnie's photographs.

Call for Entries in Remembrance of a Friend

Will Grossman was a personal friend, but for those of you not acquainted with him, he was a strong supporter of photography, a community activist, and many other commendable things. His friends and family want to remember him with more than praise and flowers so they put together a fund to support an annual photo event in his name: The Will Grossman Annual Photo Competition. This year is the first time for the event and I hope that all of you in the RTP community will consider taking part. Details can be found on the Through This Lens web site at: http://www.throughthislens.com/grossmanphotocompetition.html

Even if you are not an active photographer, or live outside the Triangle area, please help spread the word. This event has photography, friendship and love at its heart.

Is Salon Display Disrespectful?

Given that we've never tried this, I'm curious to know how you feel about salon style exhibitions - the format is quite old, and essentially, lots of work is displayed in a somewhat random fashion. Not the popular and common single row of images at eye level, salon displays have many rows of work and many sizes intermixed. I won't be surprised to hear complaints about lack of respect for the work - and we will surely return to the norm soon enough. For the next two weeks when you visit Through This Lens chaos is the operative display strategy. You will, however, see more work, and more variety than ever before.

Tell Me How You Think of Photography

A new year – a good time for a new direction: 

While I read ideas, opinions and technique daily I’m never settled about what photography is, or should be. This is odd in the respect that a gallerist is expected to make statements – but I search, observe and wonder.  Please tell me how you view photography. Do you believe in the journalistic perspective and/or in craft? Do you see, or appreciate  value in the artist-made print? Is pictorialism really a hundred years dead, or just represented with contemporary images? Do we need to make prints with all the screens around us? What about film? What about The Impossible Project?

Through This Lens has shown many variations of photography, and that has been part of my exploration of the medium. Please share your opinions and ideas, and ask your friends to post their ideas here too. If you have an idea for an exhibition please tell me. I’m always looking for something more, something different, or something new.

Craft, Intent, Technique Discussion

Sunday afternoon, toward the end of Jim Haberman's reception, a discussion began between several photographers. Barbara Tyroler led the way with many questions about Jim's prints. They are black & white Epson pigment prints, and all but one made by the artist. The lone outside print was made for Jim Haberman by Wojtek Wojdynski, an expert printer  and an imaginative photographer in his own right. The questions largely related to the strong contrast in many of Jim's prints, if and how the images were manipulated, and why. Of course, the ubiquitous question: "Film or Digital?" came up, and whether it matters.

The discussion was lively - but always friendly. With a little luck, and maybe a some prodding, more idea exchanges like this will take place in the near future. If you were there, please feel free to add to this.
On a related note: I plan to organize a one-day events to share ideas about putting together an exhibition: What is involved, what to expect, how to plan, what costs and rewards to expect.

I hope to see you all soon.

Jim Haberman Exhibition to Open

from Into the Holy Lands (c) Jim Haberman

Into the Holy Lands, an exhibition of photographs by Jim Haberman, will open on 3rd Friday, September 21st. In respect of religious holy days the artist's reception will be held Sunday afternoon, September 23rd. 

I hope that you will visit sometime soon, even if you are not able to attend Mr. Haberman's Sunday reception.

This week the gallery will be going though a typical period of transition. A little painting and touch-up will happen as we get the new show ready. You might notice that I've switched to plural, and that is because Jill Javier, a valued assistant, has returned to work part time for the next few months.

For those of you not directly familiar with preparing a new exhibition, you might be surprised at how many details need attention. Think of putting together a special dinner for your extended family and close friends. Remember all the lists, considerations, and trips to the grocery that are needed - and of course last minute attention to details nearly forgotten... So our week will be spent, not in the kitchen, but at the keyboard, or on the floor, paintbrush in hand. At some point the prints will have arrived, the wall tags will have been printed and mounted, all the PR will have gone out, and by some miracle everything will have come together by 6 pm on Friday.

Membership Opportunity

In the interest of becoming more inclusive and helping to maintain the financial health of Through This Lens, we are happy to announce a new Membership Program. The official kickoff date is Saturday, September 15, 2012, but we have already had some friends join as charter members - so it is never too early. More information will follow, but you can read about the basics at http://www.throughthislens.com/membership.html. The basic membership is $50 annually. Please phone Roylee Duvall at 919.687.0250 for more information. Please share your ideas.