I apologize if my comments bordered on a "flame." I guess I am
oversensitive. I work in a region where I am the ONLY person doing
alternative process work (other than my students). When I enter my work
in local art shows I get comments like, "That doesn't LOOK like a
photograph" or "Is that a photograph?" When I enter local photo shows,
I get similar comments plus, "How did you do that?" All of this sort
of implys that photographs are supposed to have a certain look and
I should stop trying to act like an "artist."One member of our art
faculty (now retired) has suggested to me on numerous occasions that
I should not enter my work in arts shows since it really isn't art and
only real artists should have their work accepted. Sometimes I see
photographic work by other people in art shows and it is almost always
cliches like cows in fields, waterfalls and ferns, sunsets, etc. When
one calls themself a "photographer" one gets lumped-in with the
people producing this stuff.
Anyway, I'm glad we ultimatly agree.
Best wishes,
Bob Schramm, Local Alternative