In submitting photos along with a show application, would it be considered a "no-no" to submit a photo that has two different pieces in the same photo? I have a photo that illustrates two different types of wooden carrier. They are very much alike except one has a swinging-handle and a lid while the other has a fixed-handle with no lid and the interier is divided into sections. In essence, they are two different versions of the same piece. Since a juror only has a few seconds to look at the photo would it be too confusing and might it also give the appearance of trying to show a juror two pieces while only using one of your photo choices? I think the photo is a nice illustration of the two different versions but I'm wondering if I might cut my own throat by submitting such a photo. Would appreciate others' opinions.
Comments
LOL! Yes, I would go worry about something else. I think there is plenty out there to work on like global warming and the foreclosure crisis and human rights abuses in China!
I hold to the theory that interesting work, well photographed and well lit, properly sized images that project well, plus a clean and attractive booth image, is the best you can aim for. You have to objectively view your images, share them with someone else who can give you the low down, and then get on with it. Last year a jeweler asked me to critique her images. I had a few ideas and I know Larry Berman had also worked on them. She implemented everything we had to say. The images were excellent, the work original, and then she got more rejections than the previous year. Why? If you listened to my podcast with Howard Alan and Amy Amdur they agreed that their applications are nearly 40% jewelers. It is the competition. You're not going to win them all.
Connie,
Wouldn't it be nice if we could always know how the judges were going to react to something or how they're going to see something when we put it up there. You make a very good point and one I obviously had not considered. I have a lot of respect for your opinions and, therefore, think I'll just leave the thing alone and go worry about something else. Thank you for your input. I appreciate it.
I'm on the other side of that, Don. Jurors are seeing lots and lots of images of one object centered and nicely lit -- so if one of the images has two items, it subliminally can register, "something different here" - not a bad thing. I like your description of it and think it is a good idea, a visual description of the difference.
Trudi,
Thank you for your input. It's nice to hear from someone on the other side of the image, so to speak. Your advice makes very good sense. Your comments have convinced me that, what little value there might be in submitting such an image is not worth the overall risk. So, again, thank you for your input.
As a juror viewing large volumes of images; I would prefer to see only one piece in each photo; it just makes it easier to judge when there is just one thing to view; as the time is very short to take in more than one thing. I don't think I have ever penalized anyone for having two items in a photo but you should figure that you are cutting the viewing time in half for each of the pieces in the photo and that may not be doing your work justice. Hope this helps.
Oscar,
Thank you for your input. The only reason I brought this image thing up is because it's an item that's easily correctable and, if it is something that might cause me to be rejected, I'd just as soon change it and not run the risk. How well I know that there are plenty of other things to contribute toward one being rejected and acceptance into a show says nothing about whether or not you'll be accepted into the next one. I simply want to eliminate the obvious problems - especially the ones I create intentionally. Thus my question re the images.
Don there is not any reason to believe that if you get to a show that means you will get to all the shows you apply. There are many other factors and may had nothing to do with quality of work.
I have to apologize for using some incorrect/confusing terminology in my original post. I'm referring to the images that are saved on ZAPP that we select to represent our work when we submit the application through ZAPP. I was not talking about prints but I realize I wasn't very clear in the original. I wasn't accepted into St. Louis but the jurors did make one comment which was "nice images" so I have to assume it wasn't a problem there. I was accepted into St. James so it must not have been a large issue there as well. However, there are still a few pending with the photo included so the jury is still out on those. I wouldn't know what to do if I couldn't find something to worry about!
Thank you all for your comments. I appreciate it.
It is not unheard of to submit a collection in a jury image. Example; a handmade spoon, fork, and knife in one image. Don't know if you need to send in an image with two similar pieces to show the difference in each piece. I would concentrate more on sending a superior image of one of the pieces than to attempt to show the diversity of the product by including the two versions.
Hi Don,
A few different issues here. And your thread has nothing to do with booth images.
Assuming you actually mean "prints" instead of digital images, the same rules apply as any other show application, but there's something you can do in your favor. Unless they specify 4x6 prints, I recommend sending high quality 8x10 prints so your prints will look more impressive than your competition. That will only work if your jury images are very professional. A 2400x3000 pixel JPEG in the sRGB color space can print really nicely at your local Walmart.
As for sending multiple items in a single jury image, it depends on the show. There's a lot you can get away with if your images and presentation are very professional. Milwaukee Lakefront is the only show I'm aware of that specifies in their prospectus that only one item per image.
So, I suggest keeping track of what you send to each show so you don't make the same mistake in next years application.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100