Of images submitted to shows? I was just thinking about this, that my ZAPP images may [or may not] be the strongest and I am certainly a bit biased [I know what I like] - is there someone or place where you can provide about 50 images or less and they can help gauge which might be the strongest to submit? I've been accepted into shows and rejected, sometimes with the same images supplied. So just wondered if this service is available. Thanks!
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Victoria, I'm with the other guys already in on this topic. In addition to those ideas, whenever you get a chance to attend an open jury or are near to one of Amy Amdur's Boot Camps (I think she is taking this on the road to a couple of cities in 2011) it is to your advantage to attend. Maybe they aren't going to look at 50 images of yours but you can hone your images and learn a lot. I see a fair number of juries and am always learning new things.
Whether or not you get into a show, and I know we've all had the experience of getting into a great show and then using the same images and getting rejected by a smaller show, there are other variables going on. One, of course, is the competition in your category, but then there is also how many spaces open, how many were invited, the composition of the jury. As long as you always send in your best and you have turned over every stone to make your application pristine and interesting that is the only thing left for you to do.
So good to see that you have joined this forum. I will look forward to reading your post.
Now about Zapp images, I too have had a spell of rejections from Zapp. I does cause me to question my judgments in image selection for jury, but not for long. Vicky, I've been to your web site, your galleries contain stunning imagery. You and I are both photographers, certainly we know how to create, process and select a well crafted image for jury selection. Asking for opinions maybe helpful, but you will would only get a variety of opinions and not necessarily the opinions of the next jury that you submit your images to. I don't believe there is a map to the holy grail for jury selection.
Last year, my selection rate was higher than it is this year, though my style has not changed. Jury selection is subjective... one year you're the prince and the next the goat. I do not believe that this is based on my work or the images I submit. The 10 second view and the skim of 100 character statement is hardly a study of the work. It is merely an impulsive response. Be true to yourself and shake off the rejections.
I find it interesting to check out the selected artists at various top shows. Fort Worth Arts Festival is a good example www.mainstreetartsfest.org/. BTW, it looks like the site is down. Once you gain access, you'll notice that the artists for this year are now posted on the site. What is interesting about this show, is that all of the submitted jury images get posted for each artist. Reviewing the images does show that there is truth to keeping your selection to a narrow body of work. Beyond that, the section looks pretty subjective.
A few years ago I paid for and went to a seminar in Ft. Myers on preparing images for ZAPP. In attendance, as well as a juror for the Ft. Myers art festival were reps from Coconut Grove as well as Ft. Myers. I had prepared several of my images as instructed on the Zapp site in advance, including my booth shot. I was told at the break, that my images were excellent and was encouraged to apply to the Coconut Grove festival as well as Ft. Myers. I applied to Ft. Myers with the same images I brought to the Zapp seminar and was rejected. What I'm trying to say, is that it probably doesn't much matter what anyone says...other than a juror for the event you are applying to, assuming your images meet all of the other necessary Zapp formatting requirements. If you need help formatting your images, Zapp is an good resource. That being said, Larry Berman is probably the most knowledgeable and consistently helpful member of any of the artist forums.
By the way, I particularly like your abstracts (Rehobeth Grasses and Rehobeth Beach).
I have had the benefit of Larry's wisdom on listserve and also retained him to help with some issues...and I think in a way you are right, that estimations of images may well be something particularized to the person. That's why I ask, because I know what I like but perhaps my view is jaundiced. Thanks for the thoughts and to Larry for his referral.
Replies
Victoria, I'm with the other guys already in on this topic. In addition to those ideas, whenever you get a chance to attend an open jury or are near to one of Amy Amdur's Boot Camps (I think she is taking this on the road to a couple of cities in 2011) it is to your advantage to attend. Maybe they aren't going to look at 50 images of yours but you can hone your images and learn a lot. I see a fair number of juries and am always learning new things.
Whether or not you get into a show, and I know we've all had the experience of getting into a great show and then using the same images and getting rejected by a smaller show, there are other variables going on. One, of course, is the competition in your category, but then there is also how many spaces open, how many were invited, the composition of the jury. As long as you always send in your best and you have turned over every stone to make your application pristine and interesting that is the only thing left for you to do.
Victoria,
So good to see that you have joined this forum. I will look forward to reading your post.
Now about Zapp images, I too have had a spell of rejections from Zapp. I does cause me to question my judgments in image selection for jury, but not for long. Vicky, I've been to your web site, your galleries contain stunning imagery. You and I are both photographers, certainly we know how to create, process and select a well crafted image for jury selection. Asking for opinions maybe helpful, but you will would only get a variety of opinions and not necessarily the opinions of the next jury that you submit your images to. I don't believe there is a map to the holy grail for jury selection.
Last year, my selection rate was higher than it is this year, though my style has not changed. Jury selection is subjective... one year you're the prince and the next the goat. I do not believe that this is based on my work or the images I submit. The 10 second view and the skim of 100 character statement is hardly a study of the work. It is merely an impulsive response. Be true to yourself and shake off the rejections.
I find it interesting to check out the selected artists at various top shows. Fort Worth Arts Festival is a good example www.mainstreetartsfest.org/. BTW, it looks like the site is down. Once you gain access, you'll notice that the artists for this year are now posted on the site. What is interesting about this show, is that all of the submitted jury images get posted for each artist. Reviewing the images does show that there is truth to keeping your selection to a narrow body of work. Beyond that, the section looks pretty subjective.
My rambling thoughts for what it is worth. -- Leo
A few years ago I paid for and went to a seminar in Ft. Myers on preparing images for ZAPP. In attendance, as well as a juror for the Ft. Myers art festival were reps from Coconut Grove as well as Ft. Myers. I had prepared several of my images as instructed on the Zapp site in advance, including my booth shot. I was told at the break, that my images were excellent and was encouraged to apply to the Coconut Grove festival as well as Ft. Myers. I applied to Ft. Myers with the same images I brought to the Zapp seminar and was rejected. What I'm trying to say, is that it probably doesn't much matter what anyone says...other than a juror for the event you are applying to, assuming your images meet all of the other necessary Zapp formatting requirements. If you need help formatting your images, Zapp is an good resource. That being said, Larry Berman is probably the most knowledgeable and consistently helpful member of any of the artist forums.
By the way, I particularly like your abstracts (Rehobeth Grasses and Rehobeth Beach).
Thanks for the kind words, first of all.
I have had the benefit of Larry's wisdom on listserve and also retained him to help with some issues...and I think in a way you are right, that estimations of images may well be something particularized to the person. That's why I ask, because I know what I like but perhaps my view is jaundiced. Thanks for the thoughts and to Larry for his referral.
The artfair source book has a page of jurors to consult with.
http://artfairsourcebook.com/cgibin/ctool/ctool.pl?command=virtualj...
I recommend Bruce Baker.
I also do image evaluations.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100