David Hendley on tue 19 mar 02
For me, this was the "Year of the Slides" at NCECA.
That's OK, it doesn't hurt to have the message pounded home.
First, the Clayart Slide Critique, which Joyce has already described
below.
The most important thing I learned?
You can't trust a "professional".
Some of the slides taken by so-called professional photographers
were, in a word, bad. Some were technically OK, but the placement was
just a little "off". Only the potter knows exactly how she wants the
work presented. Moving the camera up or down one inch can make
a big difference.
The second most important thing:
Include pigs in your photo at your own risk - the pigs will steal
the spotlight.
"Pick Me!! Jury Realities", Friday morning was most excellent.
Those of you who opted to see pictures of ceramic penises and
hear more from John Waters really missed out.
On the panel were experienced jurors for exhibitions (Gail Brown)
and art fairs (Bill Van Gilder), and Linda Lambert, the head of
visual arts at A&C Black Publishers, which publishes 90% of
all ceramics titles in the U.K.
All the panelists agreed; the slide, or "trannie" as it's called across
the pond, is just as important as the work. If you want to be
successful, spend as much time and effort with the slide as you did
to create the work.
The highlight of the session was actually being on a jury that had
to pick the 4 prize winners for a show out of 40 entries.
It was a great exercise to be on the other side of the fence.
For me, the slides fell into 3 categories. None were really bad, but
some had some slight defect, like being a little blurry. They were
immediate losers, regardless of the work depicted.
Most of the slides were OK, but didn't really have much to say.
The winners, of course, had that extra zing supplied by dramatic
lighting, groupings, or just great work.
I'm a functional potter, but it made me realize what a tough time
a functional teapot or pitcher has when matched up against work
from genres that are less restrictive.
Finally, in the "Technology/Professionalism" lectures, we heard
more from Polly Beach about what she is wants in a slide for
magazine publication, along with examples of the best.
Unfortunately, her presentation was allowed to continue way past
it's half-hour schedule, so Tom Coleman's presentation was compressed
into about 10 minutes.
That's a shame, because it was great to learn from a tremendously
successful potter who has taken all his own slides for his whole
career. His system is to hang a big diffuser below a photo light
and use reflector boards to soften the shadows.
Copper red glazes are particularly hard to photograph. For those,
he even covers the camera with white board, with only the lens
sticking through, to keep the camera body from showing up
reflected in the glaze.
He is just experimenting with using red gel sheets, rather than white,
on his reflector boards to more accurately shoot copper reds.
I have been trying to nail down the slide thing for decades, and
those 2 days in Kansas City were the best education I've ever received.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
For two years I've only been on the fringe of the Slide Show in the Clayart
room, missing most of the action. In KC I was privileged to be there from
start to finish. Russel from Brussels does an absolutely incredible job!
What an opportunity ..... clayarters brought slides of their own work to be
projected for all to see (brave buds!) ... good slides, bad slides, old
slides, new slides, self-shot, professionally shot .... to have their own
questions answered, and critiques given by Ruth Butler, Editor (no less) of
Ceramics Monthly.... Polly Beach of Clay Times, and others of similar
expertise. I regret not having all their names but there was so much going
on that I missed.... somebody will fill in, I know. Jean Lehman, Director
of Strictly Functional Pottery offered a short and valuable list of
Do's/Don'ts for entering slides to a juried show. Each statement was pure
gold.
Each of these generous people had been just as involved... and more
so..... as the rest of us dashing from one hotel to the other; meeting for
working lunches and dinners; WORKING their booths ..., on their feet,
smiling, promoting Clay, being hospitable, contributing to the overall
atmosphere of camaraderie and fun. AND THEN they used those aching feet to
get them to the Clayart Room to help clayarters understand the differences
between creating slides for juried shows, for publications, and for one's
own records or the entertainment of friends.
The room was even larger than the Charlotte room, with seats for all, which
were welcome since we began at 9 p.m. and went for a couple of hours .....
most of us having begun the day early. I know mine started at around 5 a.m.
and there were others milling about when I went for breakfast.
I cannot over-emphasize what a noble and unusual opportunity this was.
Russel, you're a bleedin' genius for recognizing the need, AND then
following through on its execution! I've read several articles on creating
slides, which help, of course. But to have these folk, who are intimately
and professionally involved with slides daily, telling us how to
present our work more effectively was a priceless experience. This was NOT
a "panel discussion," which too often is diminished by the nature of its
format.... well, I'm impressed.
Joyce
Lois Ruben Aronow on wed 20 mar 02
Errr...I'm confused. When I lived in England not too long ago, a
"trannie" was a cross dresser.
>all ceramics titles in the U.K.
>All the panelists agreed; the slide, or "trannie" as it's called across
>the pond, is just as important as the work. If you want to be
>successful, spend as much time and effort with the slide as you did
>to create the work.
--------------------------------------------
Lois Ruben Aronow
gilois@bellatlantic.net
=46ine Craft Porcelain
http://www.loisaronow.com
Richard Jeffery on wed 20 mar 02
hate to think what circles you were mixing in....
you might be right - i wouldn't know, he said hastily - but trannie =
transparency, yes.
there's some imagery there i really don't want right now.......
Richard Jeffery
Web Design and Photography
www.theeleventhweb.co.uk
Bournemouth UK
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Lois Ruben Aronow
Sent: 20 March 2002 13:13
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: The Year of the Slides
Errr...I'm confused. When I lived in England not too long ago, a
"trannie" was a cross dresser.
>all ceramics titles in the U.K.
>All the panelists agreed; the slide, or "trannie" as it's called across
>the pond, is just as important as the work. If you want to be
>successful, spend as much time and effort with the slide as you did
>to create the work.
--------------------------------------------
Lois Ruben Aronow
gilois@bellatlantic.net
Fine Craft Porcelain
http://www.loisaronow.com
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