Why is it so hard to see our own vision?
Last week I had the honor of judging for the Rhode island State Council on the Arts Photography Fellowships in Providence. Me? Invited to be judgemental ?
I was psyched, but wondered how I'd know which portfolios to select in, and which out.
Turns out it was manifest. A portfolio with a consistent vision, and a commitment plus passion for the subject was obvious. As opposed to those with a grouping of strong images, with good technique; a portfolio anyone would respond to as "really nice work".
Even more damning: the weak photo(s) in a strong portfolio, images the photographer threw in ... why? to fill out the fully allowed 10 ? because they weren't sure? How quickly the weak ones brought down the excellent work in the same portfolio, no matter how we judges tried to put it aside mentally, or talk it through.
Did I learn something there? oh yeah. But it's not a new challenge for me. Or, I guess, for any of us in this world:
- He who knows others is wise;
He who know himself is enlightened.
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The two RISCA fellows we selected won't be announced & awarded till the end of the month so I'm not blabbing, I still only know the work, not the names of those we judged. We narrowed it down to six, then three, then debated for a long time for the final two. It was not easy but it was very, very, cool.
want to see if I've attained any self knowledge from this ? click on over Gale Zucker Photography
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