I’ve been busy preparing for my month-long show at the Washburn Public Library. The library has three spaces, each with it’s own unique lighting environment. I’ve been to the library twice to evaluate the spaces and to see how my my photos look in the various lighting. I’m displaying a mix of 8.5″ x 11″ and 13″ x 19″ format prints.
I’m working on three themes, one for each space: Steamboat Minnehaha, Impressions of Brazil, and Impressions of France. The image that accompanies this post shows one of the volunteers, a certified boiler engineer, standing beside the triple reciprocal steam engine that powers the Minnehaha.
I do most of my digital lab work at home, using Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5 and then take the files to the Minneapolis Photo Center for final tweaking and then printing. MPC is an incredible resource. As a member, I have access to a top notch digital lab with MAC systems, large format Epson pro digital pigment ink printers, cold mounting equipment, film scanners, and much more. MPC also offers a wet lab for silver -based photography, wonderful studio space, and all the necessary supplies.
MPC also provides a place where the photographic community gathers for lectures, workshops, and gallery shows. When I go to work in the MPC digital lab I am almost certain to meet and chat with other professional photographers and artists.
Another valuable MPC resource is Tom Arndt’s F-Stop Group. Arndt, a noted photographer, facilitates a monthly meeting in which twenty to thirty photographers gather to show recent work and critic each other. The comments are respectful and thoughtful. In addition, Tom often has a guest speaker who provides insight into some aspect of the art and profession of photography.
My show at the Washburn library is to some degree a result of my membership in MPC.
For info about the Minneapolis Photo Center — http://www.mplsphotocenter.com/