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InFocus: Opening Party & Portfolio Reviews
InFocus Photo Exhibit & Award is open to the public! Visit The Front Gallery to see this amazing show. I am so proud to curate InFocus and I love seeing how it is propelling photographers’ careers forward and engaging people in the dialogue about why photography matters. I believe photography is art. This is something I’ve always promoted – and defended. The Front Gallery owner, Rachel Bouchard, is on the same page (and the gallery looks great adorned in photos, btw).
Photography is a dynamic, impassioned and powerful creative medium. Not to be ignored.
If you are in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada this Thursday, February 9 – come out to the InFocus Photo opening party! And come back again on Friday night for the portfolio reviews. Here is more info about both of these awesome events:
InFocus Opening Reception:
Thursday, February 9, 2017
6 – 9 pm
The Front Gallery
12323 – 104th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta
Curator Talk & InFocus Photo People’s Choice Award presentation – 7pm
InFocus Portfolio Reviews:
Portfolio Review Date:
Friday, February 10, 2017
6:30-9:30 PM
Registration: $40+GST
Students. Enthusiasts. Amateurs. Professionals. ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS WELCOME!
We have a rock star line-up of reviewers ready to bestow their wealth of knowledge and experience to all portfolio review participants.
Reviewers include: Larry Louie, Curtis Trent, Akemi Matsubuchi, and yours truly, Alexis Marie Chute.
Bring printed photographs, a bound portfolio or images on your laptop or tablet. The reviewers will look at your work, give feedback on how to make it better or how to promote yourself – or anything else you may be wondering about with your photography.
One registration will give you ten (10) minutes with each of our four talented and generous photographers in a speed-dating style review.
THERE ARE ONLY 6 SPOTS LEFT! REGISTER NOW!
Here is more info about InFocus:
MISSION: To promote and exhibit innovative, thoughtful, and provocative photography created by CANADIAN contemporary image makers.
INFOCUS PHOTO is an annual exhibition that began in 2015. In it’s first year, the show took place at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre and featured Edmonton and area photographers. In the second year, InFocus expanded to celebrate the best photography from across Alberta, showcased at dc3 Art Projects. Now, in its third year, InFocus has fulfilled its mission of welcoming submissions from ALL Canadian photographers. This year, the curated show will be mounted in The Front Gallery.
InFocus is one of the major photographic surveys of Canadian-made imagery.
InFocus presents the current cultural climate in photography within our nation.
Here is the line-up of InFocus 2017 Photographers:
Hedy Bach
Wes Bell
Lauren Dary
Al Dixon
Gerry Dotto
Emogene
Greg Gerla
Andy Greening
Laura Grier
Aidan Guerra
Chan Hawkins
Joshua Jensen
Candace Makowichuk
Ann Mansolino
Drew May
Deborah Naoum
Rob Pohl
Marko Radovanovic
JT Rehill
Steve Ricketts
Murray Sugden
Anne Tapler White
Vanessa Tignanelli
Curtis Trent
Kevin Tuong
Henry VanderSpek
Peter Young
PHOTOGRAPHY. WHY IT IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT.
InFocus 2017 opens to the public in one week, on February 7, with the opening reception on Thursday, February 9, followed by portfolio reviews on February 10. In the building anticipation of the show, I am pleased to introduce Jared Tabler in today’s special guest blog post. Jared is the Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director of MCQUEEN Inc., Agency Director and Principal Dealer at McQueen Agency, and Editor-in-Chief of ARTperspective. Like me, Jared believes in photography as an art form and the importance of investing in it just like any other medium. On that note, I am honoured to hand this post over to Jared.
JARED TABLER:
PHOTOGRAPHY. WHY IT IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT.
In a time when nearly everyone has access to a camera, there are few true artistic photographers, yet an abundance of people who take photos. It has become common practice to share any inane image you might capture with your smart phone, apply a couple of filters, and then post it to the social media sharing platform of your choosing; instant gratification in the form of likes from friends, family members, and even strangers. How then do we value an art form that has been reduced to idle activity undertaken by the masses on a daily basis?
Looking back over history, it is easy to conclude that in fact, it has always been this way for photographers pursuing photographic art. The earliest of photographs were experiments, accidental, at best, used to document events, places or things. And that diversity still exists today; photography has many uses from commercial, to editorial, to fine art.
It is that flexibility that has drawn so many to pursue photography in one-way or another. It is through the creation of something new that we begin to understand that a camera is simply a tool, and that possessing one does not make you any more qualified than owning a car makes you a race car driver. A camera is then, a medium, used by an artist to express themselves, and from which to create.
Great photography is no different than a great painting. The artist had a vision for the work, and was able to capture it and share their perspective through their lens, rather than with a brush. It is easy to recognize the greats in a field once they are no longer with us, we can look back at their careers in their entirety and appreciate the skill and dedication it takes to achieve such mastery in ones craft. Ansel Adams (1902-1984), capturing landscapes in breathtaking ways we had not previously experienced before; Diane Arbus (1923-1971) capturing the quirks of the human condition; and Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989) pushing the boundaries with his evocative images of the male form, while exploring sexuality. These early photographers paved the way for photographic art, and pushed the conversation about art and self-expression forward.
Today we have great Canadian photographic artists like Jeff Wall (b.1946) who pioneered modern artistic photography in Vancouver’s gritty east side, or Danny Singer (b. 1945) who captures the vast skies of the prairies juxtaposed through small town life. On the emerging side, two Canadian photographers you should be looking to invest in are Curtis Trent who will be featured at the upcoming InFocus Photo exhibit from February 7th – 28th, 2017 at The Front Gallery and Canada’s 2016 Photographer of the Year (PPOC), and Master Photographer of the Year (PPOC), Allan Bailey. While both artists have very different styles, they each represent the skill, precision and mastery of their craft that places them in a league of their own when it comes to photographic art.
Putting aside the debate on why photographic art is different, if we look back through the history of photography we can see what was good versus what was great art. Great art has the ability to transcend the obvious, to challenge us, to make us think. When we surround ourselves with it, our lives become richer, more colourful, and inspired. So when considering acquiring a piece of art, don’t allow yourself to be limited to the tools used to create it. Good art is good art no matter the medium. And good art is always worth investing in.
JARED TABLER
Chief Executive Officer & Creative Director | MCQUEEN Inc.
Agency Director & Principal Dealer | McQueen Agency
Editor-in-Chief | ARTperspective
As the CEO of MCQUEEN Jared provides executive leadership to it’s many divisions, including CREATIVE, their marketing and communications firm, SEARCH, their professional and executive placement agency, LEARN, their training and development division, as well as the McQueen Agency, an art advisory and talent management group for emerging artists. Jared’s extensive background in human resources, and business strategy allow his clients to translate ideas into realities. His passion also extends to his work in the community as a mentor, leader, and lending his time to philanthropic endeavours, including Board roles in the arts, culture and human services sectors, and as co-founder and Chair of the #NotAChoice campaign to end LGBTQ youth homelessness in partnership with the True Colors Fund in New York City, and Virgin Mobile worldwide.
ONLINE
www.mcqueencreative.com
www.mcqueenagency.com
www.artperspective.org
TWITTER
@StyleGuyJared
@MyMcQueen
@_ARTperspective
INSTAGRAM
@_ARTperspective
***
IMAGE LIST
1) The Tetons and the Snake River – Ansel Adams
2) The Weird and Wonderful Identical Twins – Diane Arbus
3) Arnold – Robert Mapplethorpe
4) A Sudden Gust of Wind – Jeff Wall
5) Saco Storm Sky – Danny Singer
6) Wolfgang & Viola – Curtis Trent
7) Stray – Allan Bailey
InFocus 2017 Photographer Al Dixon
To continue with guest blog posts by InFocus 2017 photographers, I am pleased to introduce Al Dixon. Al has been with InFocus since the beginning and his landscape images reveal he is a man of patience and skill. As InFocus is quickly approaching, I love peering into the creative practices of these photographers. It is inspiring to say the least. I’m sure you will feel the same after reading Al’s words. On that note, away we go!
AL DIXON
A picture is worth a thousand words. Yes, that’s oh so ‘tre cliche’, yet it’s a mantra that many photographers and other visual creatives live by. We strive to create images that resonate with our audience by capturing their imagination, evoking emotions & feelings, or spurring conversations. Along with a level of technical mastery & a certain visual appeal, these are the hallmarks of an exceptional image. We each have our own reasons as to why we embark on these creative journeys. For me it starts as a stress reliever. After that, the mixture of art & technology provides outlets for both my Inner Artist & Inner Nerd. Surprisingly, when we start to forget these reasons we seem to be able to produce an image reminding us of them just in time.
It wasn’t until after first posting “Sunset at Abraham” online and receiving feedback that I saw the image in a totally different manner. Having shot the image with an exposure of 4 minutes, the chaos and raw power of the location had been greatly mellowed and refined. Many that know the area commented that they had never seen Windy Point so calm and tranquil. Thinking back on the evening I created the image, I could recall sitting on the rocks with little doubt in my mind as to how the location had received its name. While strong winds attempted to toss photographer and gear into the lake, powerful gusts buffeted the tripod threatening the dreaded camera shake. Waves were crashing on the rocks below, creating spray that clambered to find purchase upon my filters and lens. What I didn’t realize at the time was that while I was aware of all this chaos, confusion, and distractions; not once did any of it interfere with the mission I was on. The image my Inner Artist intended to capture was clear in his mind, my Inner Nerd contently performed filter exposure calculations in his head, and I sat on that cold wet rock completely and totally at peace.
All it takes now is but a moments glance at that image to remind me of the simple joy the art of photography has brought into my life. While the stress of the daily grind may seem over bearing at times, immersing myself in creating images can make all of that go away. It rekindles the memories of ‘borrowing’ my parent’s camera as a child, countless hours in the darkroom throughout high school, and countless photo excursions with my daughter. These simple joys had been fading over the past few years; but thanks to a cold, wet, windy evening they are here to stay.
Where Al hangs his hat online:
Website: www.aldixonphotography.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlDixonPhotography
Twitter: @Al_D_Photo
Instagram: @Al_D_Photo
InFocus 2017 Photographer Hedy Bach
I love sharing the work of other talented artists, writers, musicians and, of course, photographers. Today is a special guest post by one of the 2017 InFocus Photo photographers. I am pleased to introduce Hedy Bach! I first got to know Hedy and her photography two years ago when she submitted and showed her photography at our 2015 InFocus Photo Exhibit and Award. Hedy is a “sloppy Buddhist” and an inspirational woman in the arts. Below you will find a unique guest blog post, entirely in poem, writing about photography. On that note, I pass this post over to Hedy!
HEDY BACH
i photograph daily
i write daily
i upload images daily
i use adobe lightroom & photo apps
and i try to work mainly in camera
i play with my fujx100s & iphone 6
rarely do i go anywhere without a camera
i like small carry-around cameras
ones i can wear like a necklace
i like to feel obscure
i appreciate tripods but rarely use them
in 2011 i began to photograph with intention
before that i made snapshots
as a girl i was always looking
i learned about the surveyed and surveyors
i studied the place of the photograph
i became a visual researcher
i taught fine arts curriculum to education students
and as a researcher i worked with images and story
social justice issues, human rights, and visual ethics matter deeply to me
when i started my blog sloppybuddhist.com
i wanted to compose posts with my images
i wanted to be behind a camera
try another way of visual story telling
every day i began to photograph beauty with intention
beauty that can be consoling, disturbing, sacred, profane;
it can be exhilarating, appealing, inspiring, chilling.
i’m self-taught
i learn from
artists
photographers
photo-journalists
writers
musicians
botanists
bloggers
filmmakers
poets, etc.
mostly i learn along the way
i love
seeing
beauty
in ordinary everyday life
i am a member of two local photography clubs
i attend workshops, talks and competitions
i take free on line learning
i have one to one lessons with photography friends
i continue learning about the taking and making of photography.
i enjoy street photography
i like people
i like walking and talking with people
it’s enlivening
and i love wandering urban environments
i also love to be alone
walk my dogs
in early mornings just after dark
my magic hour
i love the land
being outside
in a room without a roof
i photograph in my home
i don’t need to be away to find beauty
of course i enjoy being in front of something different
being in various spaces and places
i am grateful for the opportunities that having a camera has given me.
17-01-10
by hedy
me elsewhere
sloppybuddhist
hedy bach;s alberta
Hedy Bach’s Street Photography: A verb…
Hedy Bach
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hedybach
InFocus 2017 Photographer Steve Ricketts
I love sharing the work of other talented artists, writers, musicians and, of course, photographers. Today is a special guest post by one of the 2017 InFocus Photo photographers. I am pleased to introduce Steve Ricketts! I first got to know Steve and his photography last year when he submitted and showed his photography at our 2016 InFocus Photo Exhibit and Award. Steve is not only a great photographer, but a truly kind human. On that note, I pass this post over to Steve!
STEVE RICKETTS
I first became interested in photography about five years ago as a retirement project and as a homage to my Dad, and I found that I enjoyed it immensely. I find myself drawn to photography because of its ability to tell a story without the use of words. One can write at length about a topic but a single image can be much more powerful.
I’m mostly self-taught; i.e. I have no formal training in photography or in art; in fact, I’m not exactly artistic. If anything, I’m the opposite; I’m a scientist by education and work, and I take a very scientific and logical approach to photography. I have learned a great deal by reading books by photographers, by traveling with other photographers and seeing what they do, and by taking photos. Lots of photos.
I mostly do landscape photography but I also enjoy experimenting with weather (storms, noctilucent clouds), portraiture, urban photography, and the blur created by intentional camera movement. I am constantly looking for images that capture a special moment.
I use Adobe Lightroom for almost all my image processing, and Nik’s Silver Efex Pro for black-and white conversion. I try to minimize the amount of editing that I do; while today’s software allows for powerful manipulation to create a wonderful image, I prefer to challenge myself to be in the right place and at the right time to capture the image that I have in mind.
Over the past year, I have found myself drawn to doing black & white photography as I like how it draws the viewer’s attention to the contrast and texture in landscapes. I often use a telephoto lens and zoom in on a small area to capture lines and curves; it’s very much a desire for minimalism.
While the Alberta Rockies are home to a lot of spectacular scenery, there is a lot of beauty in the Alberta prairies too, and I find myself increasingly drawn to shooting the landscape in and around my home in Sherwood Park, especially in Strathcona, Minburn and Lamont Counties. That is, rather than take the viewer on a journey to see the grandeur of the Rockies, I prefer to take them on a journey around my backyard to enjoy the subtlety of the Prairies.
***
You can see more of Steve’s work on the InFocus Photo Exhibit & Award site by clicking here. Also, check-out the InFocus Photo People’s Choice Award by clicking here.
Other places to find Steve:
Flicker
2017 InFocus Photographers Announced
The 2017 InFocus Photo Exhibit is going to be a great show! Inspired by the theme “The Future,” the 2017 InFocus photographers come together in a moving collection of some of the best photography our country has to offer!
ABOUT INFOCUS:
MISSION: To promote and exhibit innovative, thoughtful, and provocative photography created by CANADIAN contemporary image makers.
INFOCUS PHOTO is an annual exhibition curated by Alexis Marie Chute. In it’s first year, 2015, the show took place at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre and featured Edmonton and area photographers. In the second year, InFocus expanded to celebrate the best photography from across Alberta, showcased at dc3 Art Projects. Now, in its third installment, InFocus has fulfilled its mission of welcoming submissions from ALL Canadian photographers. This year, 2017, the curated show will be mounted in The Front Gallery. InFocus takes place every February during Exposure Photography Festival.
Click here to visit the InFocus Photo Exhibit and Award website.
As the curator of InFocus, I am immensely proud to announce our line-up of talented and innovative photographers for 2017:
Hedy Bach
Wes Bell
Lauren Dary
Al Dixon
Gerry Dotto
Emogene
Greg Gerla
Andy Greening
Laura Grier
Aidan Guerra
Chan Hawkins
Joshua Jensen
Candace Makowichuk
Ann Mansolino
Drew May
Deborah Naoum
Marko Radovanovic
Jay Rehill
Steve Ricketts
Murray Sugden
Anne Tapler White
Vanessa Tignanelli
Curtis Trent
Kevin Tuong
Henry VanderSpek
Peter Young
There are many exciting announcements to share in the days ahead. Some of these include:
- A NEW EVENT: The InFocus portfolio review night! We’ve got a great group of professional reviewers lined-up to offer their wealth of knowledge and experience to photographers. Stay tuned for the online registration which will open soon.
- Very shortly we will launch the 2017 edition of the InFocus Photo People’s Choice Award. Voting will take place online and is an exciting race to the finish line. The winner will be announced at the opening reception during the curator talk.
Please subscribe to this blog by clicking here to stay on top of all the exciting InFocus news, along with other happenings by the InFocus curator.
Tips from the InFocus Photo Curator
The InFocus Photo Exhibit & Award call for submissions deadline is Sunday, October 30 at midnight. As the curator of InFocus, this is one of my favorite times of year. It’s like Christmas. Throughout the fall, submissions flow in for InFocus and when the deadline passes, I get the honour of viewing and experiencing so much amazing photography. It truly is a great gift.
I want to give a little insight into what makes up a successful submission. Everyone does things a little differently, but here are a few helpful tips:
- I look for photographers that have something to say. When you are thinking about what images you will be submitting, ask yourself: What would the first reaction be from someone who has never seen this photograph before? What am I communicating through my aesthetic and technical choices?
- Your vision as a photographer must come through in your photographs. “Art talk” never sways me if the work itself is not strong. Your artist statement and descriptions play second fiddle to the photographs. The work must be able to stand alone.
- That said, I read all artist statements and will especially be turning a keen eye to the answers to the theme “The Future” this year. I do appreciate thoughtful responses. If your words provoke deep reflection, this is a good thing.
- If you worry your photography is too weird/ordinary/conceptual/abstract/etc. – please DON’T FRET : ) You don’t have to fit a mold. I am looking to experience your unique perspective on the world. That is going to be totally different from the next photographer – and that’s OKAY.
- Submitting three or more images from totally different styles or subjects is fine – if those are your strongest images. If you don’t have a cohesive group of related photographs, only enter your best work.
- On the other hand, as the curator, I get a much better sense of your vision if you enter three (or more) photographs that relate. It is often in these instances where I may choose one or two or even three of the images you have entered. These would be displayed together.
- If you have more than one body of work you want considered, I would recommend entering twice, for example. The first three images in submission 1 will be from your first body of work. The second three images in submission 2 will be from your second body of work. This way I can get the best sense of each grouping. Out of the two entered, only one group of images may be chosen, but this is more likely to result in a successful entry than trying to fit both bodies of work within one submission of three images.
- It is very important that you know the size of your photograph and the finished framed dimensions as well. I look at the sizing when selecting the images. Knowing the dimensions of the gallery, I make sure I choose the right amount of work so the show does not feel too squishy or too sparse. This is why I would really appreciate you considering these dimensions carefully before entering.
- I do not have a preference for large pieces over small, or vice versa. When people ask me about the size to print their photos, I always advise that you must first look to the work itself. Does it demand a grand scale? Or would it present better smaller, drawing viewers to step closer? There is not right or wrong answer.
If you have other questions, I would love to answer them for you!
Just a few days ago I had a great phone call with a student photographer from Ontario. She had lots of relevant questions (many I have answered above) and she is very eager to enter. Her love of photography shone through during our conversation. That is what I am looking for: people who love this creative medium and are exploring it – and the world around them – in their own special ways.
With just a few days till the deadline, pop me an email if you have something you’d like to run by me infocus@alexismariechute.com I look forward to hearing from you!
Happy submitting!
Sincerely,
Alexis Marie Chute, InFocus Curator
15 Reasons to Submit to InFocus Photo
The deadline for Canadian photographers to submit to InFocus Photo Exhibit and Award is October 30, 2016! That is only 9 days away! Now is not the time for procrastination; SUBMIT TODAY!
The mission of InFocus is to promote and exhibit innovative, thoughtful, and provocative photography created by Canada’s contemporary image makers.
The call for submissions is open to professionals, armatures and students alike. We want to see forward thinking photography that capitalizes on the strengths and subtleties of the medium and takes image-making to a new level.
The goal is to exhibit the best photography from the country!
Here are 15 reasons you should submit to InFocus:
1. See your photography hung in The Front Gallery, one of Edmonton’s most important artistic hubs. Read more about The Front Gallery by clicking here.
2. Your work will be featured in Exposure Photography Festival, a critical festival of photography in the country.
3. Participate in the InFocus Photo People’s Choice Award competition, with the chance to win the cash prize from VISTEK.
4. PhotoEd Magazine will be publishing a feature on InFocus and you could see one of your images included in the spread.
5. Sell your work during InFocus. The gallery and InFocus Team will encourage art patrons to support photographers and our creative community in this way.
6. Become a part of the InFocus Alumni and network with other photographers and professionals during exhibit and afterwards.
7. Snatch up a volunteer opportunity with InFocus Exhibit 2017 to gain experience mounting and running an exhibition. Email Alexis Marie to find out how to help info@alexismariechute.com
8. Add this noteworthy exhibition to help grow your creative CV.
9. Attend a rockin’ reception party on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 6-9pm with live music and yummy snacks (and invite your family and friends!).
10. Have your work discussed for its merits and inclusion in the show by curator Alexis Marie Chute. This takes place during the Curator Talk on Thursday, February 9 at 7pm in the gallery.
11. Immerse yourself in photography, discover other image-makers from across the country, learn from them AND take your own work to the next level.
12. Each photographer’s Artist Statement and CV will be displayed at the exhibit to educate the visitors about your work.
13. Have something cool to talk about on Facebook and Twitter other than what you had for breakfast (although we’re sure it was delicious!).
14. Take advantage of InFocus’s national platform to bring more attention to your hard work.
15. Finally, just like the InFocus theme (THE FUTURE), your participation in InFocus will set you apart as a noteworthy photographer to watch.
Submit to InFocus Photo Exhibit by clicking here. Deadline October 31, 2015!
Like InFocus Photo Exhibit on Facebook.
Follow InFocus Photo on Twitter.