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Student art – NH photo education

February 14, 2011 – 2:35 pm

One of the hardest things for many people is to step back from your work and see where its going. Most artists suffer from that myopic vision. Either you think your work is amazing, super important and you can’t understand why the phone isn’t ringing off the hook from galleries and clients – or you are so down on your work that its value and impact is lost in a sea of self doubt.

Its even harder to do when your teaching photography. Suddenly the works of 35 people are lumped into a mass of incoming assignments, helping kids learn the tools and terminology, trying to promote love affairs with light … the tsunami of working in a classroom.

I’m teaching two classes of photography to students at Great Bay eLearning Charter School in Exeter.

Since we’re working with digital point and shoot cameras, much of the technical aspects of photography are out the window – aperture and shutter speed concepts are only theory if you’re using cameras where those adjustments aren’t possible.

The impetus of the classes becomes providing an environment in which students are free – and encouraged – to experiment. Its about widening people’s horizons, expanding their vision and view of the world around them.

Its tough! Unlike teaching at a college level, not everyone in the class is interested in photography. So there are frustrations – but the rewards are huge. Especially when there’s a chance to step back and take a look at the overall work.

That’s what happened when I needed to chose some photos to be in the student art show. I figured it would be easy to pick a had dozen to be printed…after all, the work had felt pretty uninspired as the semester went along.

Wow was I wrong! Stepping back provided window on some pretty fabulous photographs, and picking 6 became picking 25 – I just couldn’t edit it any tighter. A lot of good work was left out of the show ( a learning experience for me – next semester I’ll be far more prepared).

Here are a few of the photos that hung in the show. Would love to hear any feedback or comments.

By Jay | Posted in Fine Art, inspiration | Also tagged Fine Art | Comments (2)

Clara’s Dream – NH dance photography

December 22, 2009 – 10:19 am

For those of you who thought tap dance was old-fashioned, stodgy, or simply people clicking away on a stage…WRONG!

A couple of night’s ago I had the opportunity to photograph a performance of Clara’s Dream, a jazz and tap rendition of The Nutcracker produced by Maine dancer and artistic director Drika Overton. The costumes were stunning, the stage lighting and set design phenomenal, the band tremendous…but all paled in comparison to the dancers. They could have put this show on on your local street corner and it still would have been mind-blowing.
From a photographer’s perspective, it was like being a kid in a candy store – almost impossible to choose what to shoot – there were visual delights stage left, stage right, and center stage. If you took the time to look away fro the spotlit dance, all sorts of subtle dances were happening in the background. I’ve never seen anything like it.

My suggestion – send Drika an email (http://www.jazzandtap.com/ ) and beg her to bring the show back in 2010. The show was first performed in 2000, and its been on vacation since 2006. Don’t let it go back into mothballs again – the 6 musicians and 20 dancersw are a must see-must hear. After insuring its return, Mark it on your calendar, and make sure not to miss this show – it could – and should – be the start of a new holiday tradition!

And support it. Without money, the arts are just a footnote in a textbook. Don’t let that happen to this one-of-a-kind show. It’s too great to slip away.

Here’s a slideshow of some of the highlights of Clara’s Dream.

By Jay | Posted in commercial photography, dance, inspiration, music, Personal Project, photojournalism | Also tagged dance, jazz, photojournalism | Comments (3)

ECCA Art Show

November 16, 2009 – 1:45 pm

A few weeks ago I got an email from Karen Desrosiers, a writer, artist and chief cook and bottle washer of ECCA, Exeter Center for Creative Arts. Their third annual art show was being put together, would I be interested in submitting a few pieces of work for the juried show?

“You bet!”, I emailed back. It all seemed so easy. In my spare time ( whatever and whenever that is!) I do landscape photography – in much the same non-traditional way I do the rest of my photography. Here’s a chance to put it out in the public eye and get some feedback, sell a print or two…who knows, maybe the gallery scene next!

Yea, it all seemed so easy. I thougt about what I’d submit. It all seemed so easy, ideas were streaming through my head like a runaway freight train. I got busy, shelved the train and suddenly the deadline was approaching…Suddenly I really didn’t like my choices, second-guessed myself to death over and over again.

The bottom line – a few things I learned on my way – IT’S NOT EASY! It’s not easy being an artist, baring your soul and spirit. It’s not easy allowing yourself to be vulnerable. I think ego, one of the essential components of an artist, is way more fragile than I ever let on…

Bottom line, it may not be easy but “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

I’ll have some work hanging in the show – here’s the particulars:
A juried show, art work from 40 regional artists will be on display and for sale. Works from many genres are represented: pottery, sculpture, photography, wood carving, watercolor, oils, pastels, acrylics, jewelry and more.

Artist wine & refreshments reception,
Friday November 20, 6-9pm
Gallery open weekends,
Sat. November 21 & 28, 11am-6pm
Sun. November 22 & 29, noon-4pm

Exeter town hall gallery, across from the bandstand, right in the heart of downtown Exeter, NH.

Funds Raised

Percent of proceeds go to support ECCA’s scholarship fund, so that all area children have the opportunity to discover the creativity within them.

So if you’re able, please come – especially Friday, have a glass or few of wine, and check out the art – and I promise not to be fragile!

Here’s a couple of my photos you may see. B 10-8-08 RAIL TRAIL0004____tonemapped_lzn 4-13-08 TUTTLE SWAMP

By Jay | Posted in Fine Art, HDR, Personal Project | Also tagged Fine Art | Comments (0)

Jon the Painter

January 27, 2009 – 7:33 pm

That sounds almost biblical! Monday morning I set off for North Walpole, NH to meet up with Jon McAuliffe. Jon’s an artist, managing to do portraits – of the painted variety not photographic variety – for a living. Jon also happened to be selling a Mac G5 that I was needing – one of those must have been fate connections that you can make on Craigs List where he had advertised the machine.

So off my dog and I went, across New hampshire into Vermont then back into New hampshire to meet one of the amazing people of New England. We took care of business ( the computer), then I dragged my gear into Jon’s studio to do some portraits of a portrait artist!

Fun doesn’t begin to describe the time – and while shooting I learned all kinds of interesting things…never thought about the fact that there are agents who specialize in political portraits, or that painted portraits are making a huge comeback as wedding gifts!

So here are some portraits of Jon – if you ever need a painted portrait, contact him through his website, http://www.mcauliffe-art.com/.

If, on the other hand, you need a photographic portrait, contact me! It’s easy, http://www.jayreiter.com or email jay@jayreiter.com.

By the way, he’s no slouch when it comes to fine art painting either – don’t know his rates but his work is definately worth hanging on your wall!