Exhibitions: What I’ve Learned 

The jury has spoken!  My application to Artwalk 2025 this coming September has been accepted.  For the 12th time I will have  my work on display at Lake Country’s Artwalk. 

Reflecting on all the images I have displayed at Artwalk and in several other art shows, I wondered what I had learned about photography and in some respects about myself.  In answer to the question I considered  the equipment and technology I’ve utilized, the variety of the subjects I like to photograph, the quality of my work and pricing.

Technology and Equipment

Technology is ever changing, especially when it comes to the software.  I use Adobe’s Lightroom to develop my images. A few tasks, such as image resizing, I perform with Photoshop. When I compare images I made 10 to 15 years ago with those that I have made recently,  I can see that my software skills have improved immensely.  Yet there is still much more for me to learn. 

When thinking about the camera I used to produce my exhibition images I am reminded of a question I heard a professional photographer answer several years ago. “What is the best camera?”  He simply replied, “The one you have with you.” 

Since 2010 I have used a variety of cameras, all Nikons, each technically superior to the model being replaced.  All but one were cropped sensor cameras.  The one exception is my current, full frame camera.   The megapixels of these cameras ranged from 6 to 25. 

Interestingly, it didn’t seem to matter which camera I was using at the time. Each produced images that were accepted for exhibition.  What did matter was the composition I made, how I utilized the available light in making that composition and how I used my software to develop my images in the ‘digital darkroom’, my computer.

Presentation or Quality

I have learned that the printing, stretching and mounting of my canvases must be of top quality. This is an imperative for all of the pieces I put up for exhibition. Currently, these tasks are done by Canvas Plus in Ladysmith, B.C. Their work is exceptional. I would not want my work to be hanging in someone’s home if this wasn’t so. 

Variety

The subject matter I enjoy photographing is varied. When I have the opportunity to exhibit a collection of images I like to include images that reflect that variety. Particularly at Artwalk when I have a variety of images on display I notice that visitors to my display linger longer as they peruse my collection. This gives me a better opportunity to engage them in conversation. 

Pricing

Often I have been advised that I have priced  my art too low.  I have found that deciding  on an appropriate price for my art is difficult.  Should it be done by ‘feel’ or should the price be determined by a formula such as 2 or even 3 times the cost of producing the work of art?  Over time my prices have increased but not to the level of a specific formula. 

Producing quality art is not inexpensive.  My hope is that someone will appreciate  and  perhaps purchase it.  It is an honour to have my work hanging in someone else’s home or workplace.  I’d far rather that than have  it stored in my basement.  In determining an appropriate price for my art I’ve tried to determine ‘what the market will bear’.  At what point will a prospective purchaser walk away because the price is too high?  Over time I believe I’ve been successful in determining appropriate prices for my work. They may be low by comparison to others but I’m comfortable that the price is right.

Over the years, I’ve learned that the only person I have to please about my artwork is myself.  I love to have my images printed and displayed so that I can share my enjoyment of photography with others.  If someone decides to purchase my work, that is ‘icing on the cake’!

I displayed these two images, Lost Relic and Old Shed, in my first year of participation in Artwork. Each was 16 x 24 inches, printed on canvas and stretched on a frame. At that time I enjoyed isolating my subject and using saturated colours. Both were sold. The feature image, Old Paint, was displayed at Artwork in 2011.

This collection of images was displayed at Artwork 2024