Nature Undisturbed 2012

Last night was the opening reception for Nature Undisturbed 2012. What a great turn out for a show that just gets better every year. I have to say that without the many photographers submitting amazing work -- we would not have such a great show.  Thank you to all who submit!

Let me just begin by saying Brett Abbott is a wonderful person. He is so easy to talk with and explains his thinking process so well. After spending most of the day with him last Wednesday I felt that I had experienced a workshop like no other. Brett is the curator of photography at the High Museum of Atlanta. He has been here for almost a year now and appeared on our panel last year. He and his wife are delightful and Atlanta should be happy to have them!

Jennifer and Greg Blair, the owners and operators of Dogwood Gallery are also wonderful and very easy to work with. I said last night that we have made it 4 years and grown so well because we work well together. We keep Nature Undisturbed simple and it works. 

One question I am asked often about the show is "where are my photos in the exhibit." I don't enter the show -- I direct the show.  When entries come in, they come to me and I feel it is a conflict of interest if I were to see all entries and submit something myself. The jurying process is by our juror so I have no input in the selection of photos.  But since I see them all, I choose to not enter. 

Over the past few years I have entered and been in quite a few juried photography and art exhibits. Not to sound pretentious, but it is getting to the point of 'been there done that.' I have some favorite shows that I love -- mostly local -- that I will always enter out of support.  I like the show, like the people who put them on. What I find my greatest thrill now with is to see those people I encourage to enter a show succeed. 

One of my taglines has been "I help people take better photos." I mean that -- that is what I like to do. Currently I lead two local photography groups. It is the best for me to see people I know selected for Nature Undisturbed.  And when I sat there last Wednesday watching Brett Abbott walk around making his choices for the ribbons -- I was so pleased to know most of the recipients. It was hard to keep the secret for a few days from one friend of mine. She has been in my group for a while, took a class from me once, and I encouraged her to enter this year. She was thrilled to be selected to have work in the show. She also was selected to receive third place in the open category. I sat through photo club with her yesterday morning keeping the secret and waiting last night for her to walk in the door. I can tell you that was the first time I ever remember seeing Marilyn Rogers speechless -- for just a few minutes. Here is her photo, "Mellow Mushroom."

So the opening reception is past, but there is another weekend of great photography events coming up. Next Friday night at the Serenbe Photography Center we have Susan Todd-Raque speaking on collecting photography. This is a great opportunity to learn a little and become informed on art photography. A few days ago I wrote a blog about my collecting experience. On Saturday March 24, Susan will moderate a panel discussion on collecting at Dogwood Gallery at 2pm. The panel members are Anderson Scott, Peter Essick, and myself. On Sunday, March 25, I will lead a Nature Walk in Serenbe -- time to shoot a little spring and think about entries for next Nature Undisturbed -- come join us.