I’m in the midst of several scheduled art fairs, including two coming up over consecutive weekends. I’ve also been traveling quite a bit, and have two major trips scheduled for the fall, one to Acadia National Park, and the second tentatively to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. To say I’ve been busy is an understatement, but when it involves what you are passionate about, the effort and work involved comes easy for me. I really enjoy the art fairs, and always look forward to meeting new people, and answering questions about my work. Having someone purchase a print is always a highlight. I’ve made several observations that seem to repeat themselves at every show, and I thought I would share those here.

The most common question I get is whether or not I manipulate my images, to which I always answer a simple “yes”. Trying to explain what “manipulate” means for me is not always an option either because of time, or because the person asking has already decided that I’m not practicing “pure” photography. Occasionally I can elaborate and explain my philosophy and workflow, which I’ve also written about extensively here, and usually find people receptive and satisfied with my explanations. Many find it difficult to imagine the variety of colors and moods that are present at different times of day, especially sunrise and sunset when I shoot most of my images. Many are used to seeing familiar landscapes at “normal” hours, and wonder how it has been transformed by my clever “computer” manipulation. A simple explanation of how sunlight changes throughout the day, or how rain and fog interact with light to transform a scene, usually ease any suspicion of “fakery”. Perhaps the pervasiveness of Photoshop forgery in the media is at the root of these questions. I don’t resent them, except when I’m “guilty” before proving my innocence. I had one person walk into my booth sporting a very expensive camera and when he overheard me answering “yes” to another manipulation question, he quickly added “I don’t feel so bad now about my shots now.”

Another common question or set of questions revolve around my use of camera, printer, paper, etc. This is often the sign of another photographer trying to get some “undercover” info about my own work and methods. I am certainly not one that believes in trade secrets, and if they would tell me who they were, I would be more enthusiastic about sharing my knowledge, most of it garnered from other generous artists. Some of the most inspiring artists’ I’ve met, both in terms of their creative work and energy, have also been some of the most generous and humble people I’ve known. In this world of so much competition, many artist’s forget that we’re a tiny minority and need to work together to make art more appreciated and accepted in the mainstream population. I do meet many hobbyist’s and serious amateurs, and I’m always enthusiastic about their questions, and enjoy sharing tips and techniques.

And finally, most people who make a purchase usually spend a long time looking at the image they’re interested in, and eventually just say they want to purchase it. Rarely are there any technical questions, and usually the discussion centers around either their reaction to the image, or my “story” about the image. This has always been the goal for me as a creative artist, whether in music or photography. And when I can achieve this “connection” with a viewer, it fuels my determination and commitment to achieve my goals as a landscape photographer.

I participated in the 38th annual Garrison Fine Arts and Crafts this past weekend, located on the shores of the Hudson River in Garrison, NY. It was a great event, with beautiful weather, lots of people, including many visitors to my booth. I received many great compliments on my photography and presentation, and made quite a few sales as well. Thanks to everyone who purchased a print, I really appreciate their investment in my hard work. I was also interviewed by a local reporter for The Journal News, and part of it appeared the following day in print and on the web. You can read the article here.
The weekend got off to a bad start as a local storm came through the area Friday night and completely leveled my canopy and display panels, breaking several support pieces in the process. Many other exhibitors suffered the same fate, and some were not able to remain in the event. I was determined to try and get up and running by the start time on Saturday morning, and if it were not for several volunteers who generously helped me in my desperate situation, I probably would not have succeeded. Thankfully in the end, it all turned out great, and I will certainly be back for the 39th edition next year.

I’ll be displaying 7 of my images in a new landscape show opening tonight at the Wildwood Gallery titled ‘Sense of Place”. There are 4 other photographers participating in the show, and we’ll all be present at the artist reception from 5-pm tonight to discuss our work and answer questions. For those who can’t make it tonight, the show runs for one month from Aug 11 to Sep 8. You can see all of the images in the show here. For those who are local, the gallery is located at 442 Main St, Beacon NY. Hope to see you there!

I just finished exhibiting at the White Plains Outdoor Art Show held in White Plains, NY, and I had a great time. I really enjoy art shows, although there is lots of hard work behind the scenes. There’s the investment and preparation of inventory, packaging and transporting all of the artwork without damage, setup and take-down before and after the show, and long hours in the booth. But I enjoy meeting new people, talking about my work or photography in general, and meeting other artists participating in the show. I’m often asked if I remember where a particular photograph was taken, and I always answer that each image has its own story which I never forget. I remember how I felt, what I saw, and most of all, why I was inspired to setup my camera. Hopefully, sharing this with potential patrons shows them how passionate I am about my work, and allows them to not only become familiar with the image, but also with me as an artist. This is the biggest reward I get from any art show or gallery reception.

The Riverwinds Gallery website has been updated with their current artist roster, and my info now appears on their home page. So far, since the two weeks that my “ColorBox” prints have been on display in their main window, the reception and feedback from other artists and visitors has been extremely positive. I’m really excited about the reception, and just grateful to have this opportunity right in my hometown. If you’re ever in Beacon NY, stop in and check out all of the great art…plus every second Saturday of the month, all galleries stay open until 9pm.

I had a great time exhibiting at the New Paltz Arts and Crafts show this weekend, and I want to thank everyone who stopped by my booth to view my work, and say hello. I received many great compliments on my photography and presentation, and that really made it feel worthwhile after all of the preparation my wife Brenda and I put into the show. I also want to thank Andi who helped us out all day on Friday as only a true friend would - a complimentary print is on its way. And a special thanks to all those who purchased prints and allowed me to bring my vision and love for nature into their homes. I hope they enjoy the images as much as I enjoy making them over and over again.