The problem with having to cull photos…too many choices

This week, my photography teacher announced that we were having a Student Photography Exhibit at the Lawrence Library in Pepperell Massachusetts, November 9 - November 21st. Such exciting news, I’ll actually have three photos on exhibit during the month of November! Two in Pepperell and one in Groton.

I knew I didn’t want to showcase the same photograph I was showing in Groton. But how do I choose? I have a lot of photos I like, and a good amount that are (IMO) good enough to be printed and showcased, but which ones? That’s my struggle! How do I choose?

At first I thought sharing my portfolio from my website would be helpful (news flash, it wasn’t). Other than getting a lot of positive feedback from folks, (which was lovely and made me feel less self conscious about my work) it didn’t help me narrow them down at all.

While they were choosing nice photos, there was something missing with what they were choosing. Not to mention that the most popular photo, a photo of the night sky, is not good enough to be printed. Too blurry from motion blur (darn it Earth for rotating!) and I don’t have the right equipment to really take that type of photo (that was the lesson with that shoot. There’s always a lesson with photography).

What that process taught me was that I actually have something to say as an artist. I hadn’t realized it until I was getting feedback, that I do have a vision and a voice. A lot of my pictures tell a story, certainly not all of them, sailboat I’m talking bout you, but the ones that do tend to stand out (in my opinion anyways).

We all take that pretty picture of a boat, sunset, or landscape but that’s just a pretty picture. Nice to post, but doesn’t tell anyone about me and my work. And if I’m getting the chance to showcase my work, I wanted to use this opportunity to show that I have an emerging voice. Which was a cool realization to have 😃

I spoke with my teacher, who gave me some great advice, and even showed me some tricks on ways to help me cull my photos. We started with picking photos with a story, a second layer that isn’t immediately obvious, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Also, this being a photography exhibit, they had to have strong elements of visual design.

Lastly I decided I wanted the stories in the two photos to be part of the same theme. They didn’t have to necessarily tell the same story, but I wanted them to connect to each other in some way. This wasn’t a requirement, but more of a way for me to narrow my work down further.

After all of that, I ended up with 5 photographs. A much more manageable number to work through!

Tannery Square, Newburyport MA

My first choice for finalist was the mural and cook. The mural draws your eye in; it’s bold, beautiful, and larger than life. But then you notice the pop of white under the stairs, the line cook on a break. I loved the juxtaposition of this shot when I took it. The stairs dividing the scene, the polished public view/front of house verses the grittiness of the world behind the scenes holding everything together/back of the house.

Main St, Worcester MA

My second finalist was the little girl walking on a city street. This was a sweet scene when I took it. I was in Worcester and loved the way the light caused the reflections on these huge plate glass windows. It was a great backdrop for figure ground. And lucky for me, next door was a donut shop so there was lots of foot traffic!

As I’m taking shots of folks walking, I see this little girl start to fall behind because she wants to look into her bag at whatever treat she got at the donut shop, that’s when I take the shot.

My concern with this photo is does that translate. I know the story, but does the viewer. Is it eye catching enough for the viewer to stay long enough to figure it out. Does this photo convey a strong enough story to keep someone looking? Is it strong enough to exhibit?

Spirit of Salem, Salem, MA

I had two boat pictures that told a story that I liked visually as well. The first was of the Spirit of Salem, which is being repaired/restored. I took this shot at golden hour, and the reflections of the boat are so pretty. My eye is drawn to the white wrapping, which is pretty in the golden hour light. Any other time of day and it would just be white wrapping, but the lighting makes it more interesting. And of course is the reason for that reflection. Which is my favorite reflection photo I’ve taken. The masts and their reflections make fantastic repeating vertical forms, but I think it’s the weakest storytelling. Without knowing the ship’s circumstances, I primarily experience it as a beautiful maritime photograph. So maybe it’s not right for this exhibit. But certainly one I would do if I was doing an exhibit on the North Shore or Salem’s waterfront.

Black Sheep, Gloucester MA

The other boat in the finals was a photograph I took of a fishing boat, the Black Sheep, in Gloucester, MA. It has a lot to look at; the texture of the peeling paint, the shapes of the windows, ropes, and the contrast in colors between the red and blue.

The photograph is just a small part of the hull, so a portrait of sorts, showing how the weather and time have taken a toll on this hard working boat. It is a stronger option than the reflection, as it may tell a more interesting story than a boat being rehabbed.

One photo is of a sail boat, which is certainly hard work, but a fishing boat has a whole other element. The photo shows not only how it get’s beaten by the Atlantic and Mother Nature, but also the hard work that is fishing in New England. The beauty in working things.

Derby Wharf Light Station, Salem, MA

The last photograph I was considering was also taken at Salem Waterfront, at the Derby Wharf Light Station. I was there at sunset, taking pictures of the Light Station, when two separate groups of people came to look out into the harbor. I had a solitary man looking out into the distance, and a couple engaging with each other. The lighthouse separates them. So there are two stories being told. An older man, contemplative. A young couple looking towards each other. Two groups of people experiencing the same place very differently. The problem or concern I have is the shadow on the lighthouse. Is it too distracting? I like the story, but is the photo itself good enough? Or am I being overly critical.

I have a few ways I could go with this, and I’m not sure which way I will go. Honestly it’s a nice problem to have, so time will tell which way I go. Thankfully I don’t have to submit anything to my teacher for a couple of weeks 😅