Selecting photographs for an exhibition...how?

[John Kasaian]

This is completely new territory for me. I have an opportunity to submit three of my photographs for an exhibition and I am almost seriously considering it (I have a difficult time being serious!:rolleyes: )

My trouble is, which three? Should they be consistent in theme, such as three aerials OR three architecture OR three landscape OR three nocturnals OR three rust junk-heaps:confused: OR should they be my three personal favorites? OR my three technically best shots? OR my three best quality prints?

Fortunately I am in the process of making three prints for a print exchange so I've been going through a lot of negatives looking for "good ones" but it is taking me awhile to achieve what I'm looking for in the final print (these are 8x10 contacts, which is also what I'll likely be submitting for the exhibition. How I miss slow slow azo!)

A little guidence would be mightily appreciated!

[Kirk Gittings]

If it is not clear to you what your best work is, I would suggest getting some one to help you select them whose taste you respect.

[QT Luong]

Maybe the curator would be the best person to ask, but in general, given the small number, I think having images from a single theme would make a stronger impression. Technical excellence being a given, I'd give preference to artistic vision.

[Merg Ross]

Three is tough, fifty is much easier. I agree with Kirk on seeking help from someone whose taste you respect (most often my wife) and also QT's idea of a theme. Of course a particular way of seeing can be a theme in itself and not necessarily limit you to subject matter. It is also important to consider whether your work will be isolated, or if it will be interspersed with work by other photographers. In any event, have fun and it is good to hear that you will be exhibiting your work!

[matthew blais]

Hmmm...I'd probably select three images with different subject matter to show a broader range. Since you're only showing three, I'd rather represent best I can what I'm about, and not one aspect.

[eddie]

Hmmm...I'd probably select three images with different subject matter to show a broader range. Since you're only showing three, I'd rather represent best I can what I'm about, and not one aspect.

i am with matt here. unless you know your stuff will be together or if you know that they want a theme i would say show your best stuff.....you only get 3.

$.02

eddie

[willwilson]

I would select your best work with the guidance of a trusted friend whose opinion you value. I am not sure subject theme should be on the top of your list, but if it is something that drives your work then by all means include it when making your selections.

Choosing three prints seems difficult, but really three prints is the perfect number; an opener, climax, and a closer.

[Bruce Watson]

This is completely new territory for me. I have an opportunity to submit three of my photographs for an exhibition and I am almost seriously considering it (I have a difficult time being serious!:rolleyes: )

My trouble is, which three? Should they be consistent in theme, such as three aerials OR three architecture OR three landscape OR three nocturnals OR three rust junk-heaps:confused: OR should they be my three personal favorites? OR my three technically best shots? OR my three best quality prints?

First you have to answer this question: what do you want to accomplish? Are you trying to gain visibility? Are you trying to sell prints? Are you trying to establish a name as an artist (and no, that's not the same thing as trying to gain visibility)? What, exactly, do you want?

You can't solve a problem if you can't define it. Once you decide what you want to accomplish, picking three images to show will be a lot easier.

[seawolf66]

The problem I find with one selecting his own best work , may not be the best for someone else's eyes, and I believe one need's outside help in make-ing sure to put one's best foot forward :

[Merg Ross]

The problem I find with one selecting his own best work , may not be the best for someone else's eyes, and I believe one need's outside help in make-ing sure to put one's best foot forward :

Good point, which relates to the question posed by Bruce; "what do you wish to accomplish". If sales were the goal (which has never been my reason for exhibiting) then the selection would not necessarily be what I consider my best work. It has been a mystery to me why certain prints sell; prints that I do not consider my best.

[John Kasaian]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I'll put together a portfolio of my more promising prints and solicit suggestions from some local photographers whose opinions mean a lot to me.

My purpose for exhibiting really is simply to share my photos. I figure that if I enjoy looking at them others might enjoy looking at them too.

Hey, it looks like I just wrote my first "artist's statement!"

[Ed Richards]

> My purpose for exhibiting really is simply to share my photos. I figure that if I enjoy looking at them others might enjoy looking at them too.

Then show the ones you like best.

[Merg Ross]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I'll put together a portfolio of my more promising prints and solicit suggestions from some local photographers whose opinions mean a lot to me.

My purpose for exhibiting really is simply to share my photos. I figure that if I enjoy looking at them others might enjoy looking at them too.

Hey, it looks like I just wrote my first "artist's statement!"

John, for sure, you are surrounded by some very talented local photographers.

What better purpose than to share the photos that give you enjoyment? I hope that you are busy in semi-darkness, placing your negatives in contact with paper. I have been waiting a very long time to hear of a Kasaian exhibition!

[jnantz]

I have been waiting a very long time to hear of a Kasaian exhibition!


me too!

good luck john!

john

[David Karp]

Congrats John.

I would show photos made with the pinhole Turkey. ;-) (I think of you every Thanksgiving.)

Seriously, unless I heard differently from the curator, or unless the show has a theme related to subject matter, since there are multiple photographers involved, I think I would pick my three favorite photos and show them. By favorite, I don't mean it was a great day, lots of fun, and the photo brings back memories, I mean the three you think are the ones you want to share with the world based on their stand alone qualities as photographs.

[John Kasaian]

Thank you for your kind comments guys!

Merg,
I have to admit that your confidence in me has motivated me to attempt something like this.

john,
Hey thanks! The prints will be 100% Ansco-130 thanks to you!

David,
Nothing good ever came out of that turkey! You are right though, I'll have to forget the story behind the photographs (and believe me, each one has a story) and consider their stand alone qualities. That will be difficult, but maybe that is where having someone else's opinons to go by will be a good thing.

[jim kitchen]

Dear John,

I would present images that you can passionately speak with when asked a simple question from a patron...

I say that because my gallery experience indicates the artistic public can be very interested in your experience behind the image, without adding too much drama. The patrons that usually purchase an image, sometimes require your character to shine through, beside a quality image. :)

jim k

[John Kasaian]

Dear John,

I would present images that you can passionately speak with when asked a simple question from a patron...

I say that because my gallery experience indicates the artistic public can be very interested in your experience behind the image, without adding too much drama. The patrons that usually purchase an image, sometimes require your character to shine through, beside a quality image. :)

jim k

Good point jim k! Each photo has a story I can relate, but I don't think that I'd want the story to be the deciding element on choosing which photographs to submit. Of course if the people at the exhibition insist, I can always fall back on the frozen turkey pinhole camera story---no photographs but a great story!;)

[domenico Foschi]

Choose your favorites and people won't buy them although your artist friends will love them,but since they are artists they have no money, so.....
Choose the ones you cannot stand and people will love them and you'll break the bank.

Regarding the choice, John, is there a theme? Do you have an idea of what the other photographers will bring? Do you know them?

I had some work in as show just past sunday and I was the only photographer not displaying landscapes, and most of them were in color, not a good thing.

Don't think too much, let it rise to the surface.

[Bruce Watson]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I'll put together a portfolio of my more promising prints and solicit suggestions from some local photographers whose opinions mean a lot to me.

My purpose for exhibiting really is simply to share my photos. I figure that if I enjoy looking at them others might enjoy looking at them too.

See? Makes it easier to choose doesn't it? And this is a good method, you pick a larger portfolio and get others to narrow down the field. Wish I could see it, but alas, you guys in CA have all the fun. ;)

[Ash]

I choose the ones I like most, then I "try" to show them to people. The ones I feel the desire to skip past are clearly not my best. Then I couple that with what ones they like best.


Get someone (maybe curator) to go over what you're planning, and rip apart your initial idea.

[Frank Petronio]

Do the three large format aerials. They are unique and special. Don't listen to all those elitist art snobs spewing introspective, half-assed, fence-sitting, CYA, goobley-puke above me.

[John Kasaian]

Do the three large format aerials. They are unique and special. Don't listen to all those elitist art snobs spewing introspective, half-assed, fence-sitting, CYA, goobley-puke above me.

ROFLMAO!
Thanks Frank for keeping this in prospective. :)

[Brian Ellis]

Unless the exhibit has a theme or the curator wants particular types of photographs or for some other reason you don't have complete freedom to hang what you want, I'd just choose three photographs from among my favorites. Whenever I show photographs I think other people will like rather than those I like I get into trouble.

[photographs42]

I agree with Frank. Whether consciously or unconsciously, most people interested in art look for a cohesive “Body of Work” from an artist. While three prints hardly defines a body of work, three prints of widely varying subject and style clearly does not!

Also, if properly curated, your work will hand as a group. Choose three that look good together.
Jerome

[Patrik Roseen]

I might be focusing too much on the gear and process used...

I do not know how often people get to see LF work in the US, but in Sweden it is rather unusual.
I would choose the work which will make it stand out from the crowd.

Large prints with lots of details.
Unusual perspectives.
Pt/Pd or similar alt process prints.

Now, aerial LF would definitely stand out! Good luck!