Take a look at the last photograph in this link. Who is that? I know that photo. I remember being rained on for an hour to make that photo. Risking the state of my gear, risking hypothermia in 40-degree rain. Putting a plastic bag over my camera and needing to clean the front element of my lens after every attempt to make the photograph.
After a celebratory glass of whiskey last night, i was finally calm enough to process it.
I’m being featured in an exhibition on the other side of the world.
The Other Art Fair, put together by Feature Shoot’s #ThePrintSwap (that’s the hashtag you’d use to submit photos), is taking place in Sydney, Australia in mid-March. Too bad I can’t physically go there, but maybe I can get one of my friends in Australia to go and grab some pictures of the exhibition.
I went into 2019 as a realistic optimist. Knowing very well that whatever I submit to has a very good chance of not making it, knowing that things will go wrong, knowing that I’m competing with incredible photographers around the globe to get into exhibitions such as this.
But this time? This time I made it. I submitted three photos to The Print Swap back in December, only hoping that one would be accepted. All three were accepted. However, to save a few bucks, I only sent over one (it’s a $40 fee, which covers printing and international shipping of the print I am to receive).
During the time period I submitted my photographs, any photo sent to The Print Swap was being put into a pool of entries to be considered for this exhibition in Sydney. I thought “that’d be pretty cool, but i don’t think it’s going to happen.”
And it did.
I received the email while preparing my dinner. At first glance I didn’t think anything of it — but then I read the whole email subject and actually screamed “WAIT, WHAT?” I was vibrating with joy.
After reading a little further down and viewing the other twenty images in the exhibition, I recognized a name of one of the featured artists. Emmanuel Monzon is also one of the group.
Since beginning my studies of contemporary landscape, Emmanuel Monzon has been a major influence on my recent work during the past year.
And one of my photographs is in an exhibition with one of his.
I’m not sure how to put into words my excitement. I was already ecstatic to be able to add another exhibition to my curriculum vitae, but now that same entry is also going to be one one of my favorite photographer’s CV.
The goal now is to ride this high, but not let it get to my head. Retaining the realistic optimist mentality. Keep making work, keep pushing myself, and keep submitting to publications. As a nearly graduated art student, this is one of the best things that could happen.