The Life and Times of An Upcoming Photographer
: : photo by Ryan Maxwell : :
It was pretty surreal. There I was, standing in front of the black pegboard amongst the eighteen prints and amongst them, my photo. Across the room was another one of my photos, which I mockingly named “Retro Ball of Warm, Healing Light” just to chuckle when I listened to people discussing it. I wondered if that’s how everyone else who went through having their work displayed in their first art show felt when they saw their images printed. “Nah,” I thought, “I’m probably the only sap in the room – these people are too cool for that!”
The second annual InstantDC show was November 9th, and it was an event I had been looking forward to for a year. Since last year’s InstantDC exhibit, my good friend and organizer, James Campbell, has been making some BIG strides. From a self-promoted show to a sponsored show along with FotoWeek DC, he’s making things happen, and I have never been prouder of my friends. He has kept a few of us in the loop about some of the goings on, but to see everything in action was fantastic and better than I could’ve imagined.
The event was hosted at Interface Media Group, who held the main exhibit in their recording studio. I loved the layout, having strobes normally used to put on a television or video production illuminating the artwork, and everything draped in black to make the images stand out. What was even nicer was the food and beverage selection, which was succeeded by a clothes line containing thumbnails of all of the entries to the InstantDC a la FotoWeek DC.
I had the joy to hang out with some of my good friends who had pieces displayed in the show while I was there, but also got to meet a couple of other great photographers whom I have been following for quite some time, and other photographers who I have certainly been missing out by not following until now. Great people like Ryan Maxwell, Greg Schmigel, Michael Andrade, Laura Frantz, and Jon Betts, who, if it weren’t for Jon, I wouldn’t have been encouraged to attempt mobile photography and “appstracts”, as James calls them.
Knowing that a few of my friends would be there made it especially exciting to attend. Seeing their images appear next to mine made me feel a bit inadequate – their body of work is incredible, and here lies a photo I took of the ceiling in Jaleo that got selected by the judges. It just didn’t seem to match up, considering the always-fantastic works from photographers like Jenny Markley and Jim Darling made me feel a bit small. Even more ridiculous was being contacted a few days later about interest in buying one of my pieces! One of MY pieces! What the what?! Already, I was feeling humble, but the slices of humble pie just kept being served! I was beyond flattered and can’t wait to send away the print!
The biggest egoist thing I felt compelled to do was show my support for local artists (since this was a DC-centric event, though I feel FotoWeek does a poor job of showcasing Washingtonian talent, but that’s a rant for another day). My thought was to be seen in a Jon Wye shirt, who is an awesome and talented t-shirt and belt buckle designer from the area, and make sure that it was known DC has wonderful artists beyond this week-long exhibit. I was very pleased that I had been asked numerous times where my shirt was from, and considering it also related to cooking – which was a play on where I had come from, I felt it very suiting to wear. Hopefully, this meant Jon got a little more attention for his work!
Everyone’s work was so incredible that to put my photos anywhere in the same vicinity was extremely humbling. On top of that, everyone was extremely pleasant and a joy to talk to, which only made the experience more memorable, knowing I not only walked away from the Interface Media Group facility with the ability to check off something from the ol’ photography bucket list, but that I also walked away with a bunch of new and inspiring friends.
Until next time,
- Patrick
I got to see the show at FotoSpace over in Adams Morgan (by the horrid U st mess). When I heard it was mobile photography, I thought “oh great, another Hipstamatic circle-jerk” but it was actually really good. Greg Scmigel’s work really was the stand out for me. Great to see a lot of local artists on display.
Haha! Thanks, Walden!
As much as I LOATHE Hipstamatic, it was nice to see that there was hardly a trace of that here and that it actually consisted of TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHERS for a change. A big thanks goes to James Campbell for making this all happen, and especially making sure it wasn’t a “Hipstamatic circle-jerk”!
- P
Ha. I felt pretty much exactly as you did that night. Wanted to pinch myself a lot, thought that might look weird so I refrained. Wish we could have talked longer. Will you be at any Meetups during the next year? Maybe another show soon?? And CONGRATS about the buyer!
Thanks, Laura!
It was great meeting you, too! We’ll have to arrange some meetup, along with Jenny, James, and Jim (The Killer J’s, as I have just dubbed them at this very moment)! I haven’t heard of any other meetups just yet, but as long as they don’t fall on a day where I’ll be shooting out of town or Christmas, I’m game! And I’m looking forward to other shows – InstantDC created an art show addiction in me that MUST be given in to!
Cheers,
- P
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