Shorts on a Line

Now that the Photo Synthesis exhibit has wrapped up, I'm already thinking about the photos that I would want to show at the next show.

If I ever have another exhibit, that is.

I learned a lot from Photo Synthesis. I learned what size of photo seems to be more popular. Though one of my larger pictures did sell, neither of my largest, 24 x 36 canvas prints, sold. Most of the framed prints that were most successful were 8 x 10, or smaller.

Nature subjects sold better than did subjects of city scenes or candid people shots. Though I did sell my closeup of the waterfront buildings in Porto, Portugal, most photos that had people in the frame did not sell.

I think that if I were to select photos again, I'd go for some of my bird photos and some of my flower shots. I'd offer some of my landscape nature images. While I've learned that a good photo should tell a story, many photos in the exhibit that screamed storytelling remained unsold at the end of the last day.

Photo Synthesis was a good first show. Given that the Arbor Gallery is in a remote town, I'm surprised I sold any of my works. I did speak to a lot of people who were interested in my photos and asked me about the stories behind them, or how I came upon the photo opportunity, but in the end those curious folks didn't make any purchases.

That's okay.

I learned a lot and will have a new understanding if I'm ever to do this again.

When the doors closed on the gallery and my remaining prints were loaded in my car, one of the other photographers (who's also an old friend) and the exhibit's curator (a new friend), both who live in Vankleek Hill, invited me for a pint at the town's tavern. We sat at a table on the patio, out behind the tavern.

My friend, Greg, noticed a clothes line, beyond the patio and high above, with two pairs of shorts hanging. He pointed it out to me and said that it was too bad that we didn't have our cameras with us. The shorts would make for an interesting shot.

I pulled out my smartphone and captured a quick shot. I then ran the image through my phone's photo-editing software, Snapseed, and in less than a minute showed my work.

"Should I have it printed?" I asked.

Well, should I?

(No. The answer is no.)

Happy Monday!

Weekend Plans

Another weekend is fast upon us. Is it me or does 2023 seem to be going by so quickly? It's hard to believe that we're approaching the end of July.

I hope the coming weekend brings you a good balance of productivity and relaxation. I truly hope you find joy over the next few days (and always, of course).

If you don't have any plans for the weekend and you live somewhere between Ottawa and Montreal, might I suggest that you take a day trip to Vankleek Hill, a short detour off the highway that joins these two major Canadian cities?

My Photo Synthesis exhibit is still running strong. Photographs from three Vankleek Hill artists and me show a unique perspective of the world around us, from a cat sitting on a bicycle, a statue blended into waves on water, flowers and birds, to a lone woman walking on a New York City subway platform, the exhibit at the Arbor Gallery is a great collection of eclectic images.

If you're up for a road trip, get to Vankleek Hill for lunch time and stop at The Broken Kettle for delicious sandwiches, lovely pastries and treats, and tasty coffee. From there, drive or even walk (it's less than five minutes on foot) to the gallery, on Home Avenue.

Next to the gallery is the Higginson Tower, an historical landmark that you can climb to gain a unique perspective of your own.

After your visit to Arbor Gallery, head over to Beau's Brewery and pick up a pint or six pack. If you're up for a scenic drive back to Ottawa, take some of the county roads that head west, passing by farms where their silos are painted with various artwork. Take highway 17 through Alfred, Plantagenet, Clarence-Rockland, and follow the Ottawa River back to the city.

If you're heading back to Montreal, head north to Hawkesbury (it's a pretty little town, too) and then take county road 4, following the river toward Voyageur Provincial Park, and then hook back up with the 417.

Photo Synthesis runs until Sunday, July 30. On the last day, the photographers will be there to close out the exhibit.

So... what are your weekend plans?

Happy Friday!

Positive Start

The vernissage for Photo Synthesis brought a lot of people to the Arbor Gallery on Saturday, and I have to say that it took a lot off my mind.

In the weeks leading up to the exhibit, which runs now until July 30, I questioned my submissions and even my abilities as a photographer. I worried that visitors of the gallery would look at my work and shake their heads, wondering why I would have been asked to join with other photographers more worthy of the wall space.

But many showed up to admire the work of Greg Byers, Reenie Marx, Karen Molson, and yours truly, and the vibe, the feedback, and the praise were heartwarming. A weight was lifted from my chest when I saw a red dot affixed to the label for one of my photos.

It was a great beginning to the show.

I captured some video from my smartphone and have put together a short presentation of the exhibit. Have a look.

The three Vankleek Hill photogs and I will be back at the gallery to close out the show on Saturday, July 30, from 1:00 to 3:00. Come out to Vankleek Hill to check out the photographs and maybe even walk away with one or five. I've already agreed to negotiate printing more, should there be a demand on an already sold work, and I'm sure the other photographers would be open to the same.

Happy Monday!

My Collection

The hardest thing I think that I've had to do, of late, was to select what I thought were 10 to 12 of my personal-best photos to show and sell at the upcoming Photo Synthesis exhibit, in Vankleek Hill.

I'm highly critical of my own photos, even when someone tells me that a particular photo is very good. For me to select a bunch of my photos that I feel that people would actually want to buy was a daunting task.

Even now, when I've submitted the photos to the Arbor Gallery, I have my doubts that any of them will sell. And if nothing sells, I'll have the evidence that tells me that I really am an amateur, and to call myself "a photographer" is nothing short of fraud.

Next month will tell.

This post is to remind you that you should come out to Vankleek Hill, a little over an hour east of Ottawa, next month and check out the photography of some local photographers. Photo Synthesis starts on July 6 and runs to the end of the month, with a vernissage (meet-and-greet) on July 8 from 1 until 4.

To give you a taste of what I've submitted, here are just a few:

I hope to see you there, if for nothing other than moral support.

Photo Synthesis

A while back, I mentioned that I will be participating in an art gallery, where I'll be showcasing some of my best photos with other photographers from the Ottawa area. I now have a date.

July 6 to 30.

The theme of the exhibit is Photo Synthesis—four photographers sharing their vision. For me, my photos represent an instant in time where I saw something that was fleeting: either I was going somewhere and couldn't linger or the subject was moving and would soon be gone. In most cases, it was I who was on the move but for my main piece, it was an instant that was never going to repeat itself and if I hadn't captured it, the moment would be lost forever.

Choosing the photos was the greatest challenge. I do like a lot of my photos but when it comes to printing them to a certain size and looking them in a frame, my whole perception of the photo changes. I sent one photo to be enlarged to an 8 x 12 print, and as soon as it was in a matted frame, I didn't like the shot.

My mom was visiting shortly after I put the photo in the frame, and she loved it so I let her take it home. (Funny: on the wall upon which she's hung it at her place, it actually looks pretty good, though I still don't think I could sell it.)

The Photo Synthesis exhibit is out of the way, as far as galleries are concerned. The event is taking place at Arbor Gallery, in Vankleek Hill, which is more than an hour away from my home. But I guess I've got to start some place, yes?

There's a vernissage that will take place on Saturday, July 8, from 1 to 4 pm, and Vankleek Hill is an interesting town, near Hawkesbury. Heck, even Beau's All Natural Brewery is here, for all you beer lovers. I'll be there to meet and greet so I invite you to make the trip and see what the gallery and the town have to offer.

I'll be reminding you about the exhibit from now until it wraps up. Fair warning!