Filter Photo Festival-Chicago, IL. /  by Ron Cowie

Filter Photo Festival

I'm excited to meet the portfolio reviewers at Filter Photo Festival in Chicago. If you would have asked me last week, I would have told you just the opposite. Actually, I would told you that I really didn't think it would have been worth the time and effort. You see, one of the best defense mechanisms I have to date is ambivalence. If I don't mind, it doesn't matter. 

There are as many reasons to go to portfolio reviews as there are people who attend. I know the party line is to say 'portfolio reviews are a great place to meet people who can help your career move to the next level."

There are even people who have made a business out of giving tips on how to "nail your portfolio review".  In fact, portfolio reviews have become a bit of a cottage industry. This is a good thing for photography. The abundance of people making better pictures is a result of greater access and organization from the "industry" side. When I'm feeling insecure about where I stand in this model, I think it's all just a silly circular game designed to suck money out of image maker's wallets. As with all overblown fears, there is a grain of truth to them.

Here's what I know for sure about portfolio reviews:

  1. They're fun. 
  2. I get to meet some of the best thinkers and creators in photography. 
  3. It gets me out of the house.
  4. Gatherings like this organize my thinking around the images I produce. 
  5. It's inspirational to see other photographer's work.
  6. Finding out that I'm not alone in this is a great comfort.

I don't have a really big agenda for Filter. I'm bringing some recent work and some projects  I haven't had a chance to show around. I going to Filter to get some fresh eyes on my work. Here are the reviewers I'm meeting.

This is a pretty amazing bunch of people and I'm not just saying that in case they actually read this. The energy and effort that would go into meeting these people individually would be astronomically higher and more complicated. Filter is a better deal.

Now, all platitudes and politically correct jibber-jabber aside, my expectations are extremely low. It is harmful to think otherwise. I'm not planning on walking away from this experience with print sales or shows booked. I'm not bringing a portfolio with that in mind. It's always more fun to see if I really connect with anyone and pursue the relationship after all the smoke clears.

No one is really making any kind of money doing this stuff. Hardly anyone supports themselves with their art "career" work. The exceptions are either living in a van "down by the river" or don't need to go to portfolio reviews anymore. 

Photographers wanting to remain "pure to their craft" will have very short careers unless they marry rich or win the lottery. Taking work to portfolio reviews offers a chance to create new opportunities and avenues for projects outside the fine art world. I have conflicted feelings about this truth however I recognize it is nothing new. It is the new normal for a well-rounded career involving photography. 

So, I arrive Wednesday night and can't wait. If you're attending too, I hope to see you.  

Rhythm & Roots Festival: an annual treat /  by Ron Cowie

I was first introduced to the Rhythm & Roots Festival in 2012 when I was assigned to cover it for SO Rhode Island, a local magazine. It made sense to bring the large format camera to set up a portrait studio backstage. I photographed the artists in a semi-formal setting that spoke to everything roots music represents.

What is "Roots" music? It is a style of music that includes folk music from a variety of American and French Canadian cultures. 

In any case, this weekend is always a lot of fun for me and a story to follow. Here are some images from the past years.

Portraits with an 8x10 camera. /  by Ron Cowie

Before I went to photo school, the only thing I knew I wanted to do for sure was "Make 8x10 portraits of people and print them in platinum."

The reason had a lot to do with my tendency to be a bit grandiose but, it also came from a real interest in making something beautiful. The large format camera and platinum printing give a depth and dimension to a portrait that cannot be duplicated any other way. This was how the masters did it and it was the normal way to do it not too long ago. Just about any and all of the glamour shots made in the first half of the 20th century were made using large format cameras. I fell in love with them and that is that. 

I still haven't fallen out of love with this process. Lord knows it has cost me a great deal but everything a negative comes up in the fixer, I can see a little into the eternal. If twenty somethings can go on about the latest toy camera app for their phones, I can talk about my love of the classic portraits. 

Who are the people I look to for inspiration?

  • Dorothea Lange,
  • Irving Penn,
  • Richard Avedon,
  • Yosuf Karsh, 
  • Margaret Bourke White
  • Edward Steichen

Something happens when I use a bigger camera, time slows down because I have to slow down. It isn't about "capture" but more about "creating". My subjects have to trust me a little bit more than usual. The successful portraits show this.

 

 

"No, You Get A Room!" (Engagement Portraits) /  by Ron Cowie

A little liplock at sunset never hurt anyone.

A little liplock at sunset never hurt anyone.

New England is known for being a little uptight around public displays of affection ("P.D.A." according to The Preppy Handbook). However, when you find that one person you want to spend the rest of your life with, you get to make-out a little.

Sessions should be kept simple. I'm interested in showing the connection you share with your partner. Often, for me, that just requires simple light, a beach and, my camera.

 

Matunuck Oyster Bar /  by Ron Cowie

Rhode Island's best seafood restaurant is the Matunuck Oyster Bar. Located on Potter's Pond in East Matunuck, Rhode Island, MTKOB is nationally known for their great food and commitment to sustainable, organic farming.I was commissioned to create and manage the content for their social media platforms. I have been an admirer of the restaurant and Perry Raso for a long time, so it was a real honor to be a part of the team.

Here are some of the videos and still images I've made in support of their mission

A short piece about how the oysters are farmed and what give them their unique flavor.

The term "farm to table" gets tossed around a lot but Matunuck Oyster Bar has invested deeply in the idea. Most, if not all of their vegetables come from their own farms within three miles of the restaurant.

Oyster Facts for Matunuck Oyster Bar. Using humor to promote the health benefits of oysters.

A video playing on the idea of Oysters as aphrodisiacs and the sexual powers contained within. The object was to be scientifically accurate and funny at the same time.

A quick spot taking a fact and using it to promote the restaurant.


Rejoice Evermore! /  by Ron Cowie

"For Indian Summer"

"For Indian Summer"

Great news for anyone with their panties in a wad about the photography business: we've never had it so good. I love photography and the sense of possibility is overwhelming. My only problem is figuring out how to make it all work. That isn't the industries problem, it's mine.

 Today, you can access some of the greatest minds in the art world with nothing more than an internet connection (if you're reading this, you have one) and a basic command of the English language (Yes, lots of amazing people in photography don't speak English. Don't bust my balls.) Now is a time to rejoice.

Below are some reasons and resources.

  • Galleries are cropping up all over the place. You can throw a rock and hit a place that is looking for great photography to display. My own online gallery Bert & None is one of them.
  • Photo editing has never been simpler. You can create worlds sitting at your desk. Any mechanical issues you have can be researched on YouTube. Hell, most of the crap can be done on your cell phone.
  • There are scores of curators more than happy to look at your work if you treat them with some basic human decency and respect. Portfolio reviews are great opportunities build your audience. Here are just a few from a fairly exhaustive list to consider:
  • Bloggers and photo enthusiasts are online and cheering for you from all points of the compass. This doesn't even scratch the surface.
  • Photography is collected more and more as the level of sophistication and cross pollination between mediums increases. Very few people are getting rich, or even making a living at it, but that's nothing new.
  • You can publish your own photo books without compromising quality and without going broke. Ten years ago, neither one of these things were true.
  • While you might think that there is global competition, the better way to think of it as a global audience. If you don't believe me, check the SEO metrics for your website. 

So, if you are ever feeling down about the way of the world, take heart, there are lots of people just waiting to meet and be met by you. I hope to see you soon.

 

Confessions of an artist /  by Ron Cowie

I didn't get into three group shows that I wanted to be accepted into and it hurts my feelings. It validates the false belief I carry around that says "I'm not good enough." or, better yet "No one understands me." What bullshit.

Here's the truth about it all, I'm lazy and have a sense of entitlement as long as my arm about my art and where it belongs. I don't think the rules of basic business apply to me when it comes to my vision. The simple reality is this, I'm the kind of guy who can write the words "my vision" without wincing and expect to be taken seriously. When I don't take myself seriously, my best work is born. I'm not the creator of the work, it comes though me. Why shouldn't I have a little fun and enjoy the show?

These three shows I'm not in give me a greater gift no amount of resume stuffing can provide: freedom. I can't really make interesting images and pay attention to the art world at the same time. I like what I like and I'll keep making it. I don't think my work is that complicated and some of it is just about beauty. So what?

The world needs more beauty and people like to buy that stuff. I need the money.

I'm 45 years old, it's time to get a little apeshit. These images I made when I lived in Boston. You can buy them at Bert & None Gallery. That's where I sell my art that isn't formally represented by a gallery.

 

The Cure For Fear /  by Ron Cowie

Labyrinth on Block Island

Labyrinth on Block Island

Fear is a fact of life. The great gifts of humanity were created trying to overcome fear. Civilization was built on the simple idea of “How can I make my family a little safer so they can survive?” While the methods of that struggle have changed, the mechanics are the same.
Today, we are bombarded with a global menu of scary stuff.  Fear is a natural response to legitimate danger. Running from a burning building is a very healthy thing to do. Wearing a seat belt is another example.

Fear, when applied to our greatest attributes makes them toxic. Fear weaponizes all that is right and good in the world. Here are some examples.
“Persistence + Fear = Stubbornness”
“Pride + Fear = Arrogance”
“Love + Fear = Obsession”
“Curiosity + Fear = Paranoia”
“Kindness + Fear = Manipulation”
“Ambition + Fear = Gluttony”
“Intelligence + Fear = Pretentiousness”
“Meditation + Fear = Resentment”
“Skepticism + Fear = Denial”
“Piety + Fear = Self-righteousness”
Or natural fear of the unknown has been exploited for most political, business, and entertainment ends. The “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous best describes: “It was an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of our existence was shot through with it.”

Here is the thing, being afraid of stuff, however petty,  is what makes us human. One of the great things about being human is our history of transcending that animal fear into something beautiful. Every religion or spiritual practice basically sprung from a desire to rise above our base nature of fight or flight.
Transcending fear is not the same thing as eliminating it.
So, how do we overcome fear? If you are truly being overwhelmed by anxiety and panic attacks, avail yourself of professional, medical help. Life isn't a contest to see who can suffer the most pain. If your days and nights are consumed by fear, anxiety, and panic, it doesn't need to be that way and there is help.
Here is what helps me:

Talking about it. I rat myself out. Fear is a virus with  an elegant survival mechanism contingent on silence. I have people in my life who I practice telling the truth to on a regular basis.

Write it out. I have found the most effective way of eliminating fearful things is to put pen to paper and write them out as well as I can. Make a list. It might look like this:

  • I'm afraid of working on my resume.
  • I'm afraid that when I apply for this job, I won't be enough and someone more qualified will get the job.
  • I'm scared of what strangers think of me.
  • I'm afraid of change.
  • I'm afraid all the work I have done will be for nothing because I don't have the right connections.
  • I'm afraid I'll get the job and then lose the job once they realize their mistake.

Notice most of all these fears are tied to external things. I'm projecting fear on to other people in order to avoid the potential pain of being a responsible adult. When I write out my fears, I can see them for what they are, and move through them. It is the simplest of actions with the greatest result.

Exercise. Just going for a walk really does help. It's not a cure-all but when your body is pumping itself full of adrenaline, use it.

Peaceful projects. Find an activity that you can get lost in for a while. It could be a jigsaw puzzle, cooking, drawing, playing a sport, music, whatever.

Make peace. We live our lives in relationships and no one does them perfectly. If there are people in your life who you have unfinished business with, do what you can to make that right. The magical words that help heal:

  • "I was wrong"
  • "I'm sorry."
  • "What do you think?"
  • "How can I help."

A caveat to the above suggestion: ask disinterested parties for help in figuring out your side of a broken or bent relationships. Often we can make things worse when trying to fix things for the sake of our own comfort.

It has been my personal experience that when I "walk through" my fears, amazing things happen. I am quite surprised by the results because they are, in fact, beyond my wildest dreams. I have pretty wild dreams.