Some people have a gift for picking winners. In the stock market or horse racing, this may lead to a lucrative career. In photography, it leads to reviewing and curating artistic creations and, if you are especially talented, to acting as a juror and awarding prizes. The rarest of birds amplifies the efforts of photographers and promotes the business of photography to such a degree that she elevates the entire field. This is Aline Smithson.
“Arrangement in Green and Black #20, Portrait of the Photographer’s Mother” by Aline Smithson (courtesy of the artist)
This year, Aline Smithson was the judge for The Griffin Museum of Photography’s 20th Juried Show: The Peter Urban Legacy Exhibition, currently on view through August 31, 2014 in Winchester, MA. On opening night, Boston’s glitterati and scores of others from our photographic community came out for a talk by Smithson prior to the Griffin’s gala celebration for the show. Asked by Paula Tognarelli, the Griffin Museum’s Executive Director and Curator, to address nothing less than “her work and the business of photography”, what would Smithson tell us in one scant hour?
“Quincy” from the series “Spring Fever” by Aline Smithson (courtesy of the artist)
Quite a lot, it turns out. Tracking her own creative photographic journey, Smithson remarked on countless failures, fleeting successes and one particularly stinging missed opportunity, with an openness, modesty and wit that not only established her credibility as a working artist but also locked up her status as everyone’s new BFF. En route, we observed Smithson’s outwardly circuitous but truly coherent creative process, borne in large measure from her fascination with costumes (former NY fashion editor), love of kids (a mother) and her delightful penchant for satire. This visual condensation of her many and varied projects actually accentuated the common threads in her photography and drove home the point that one shouldn’t bother staying up late to wait for creative inspiration to strike. No surprises here: Smithson adheres to the “just do it” work ethic.
“DUH” (“two”) from the series “Counting to Ten in French” by Aline Smithson (courtesy of the artist)
In fact, Smithson’s robust work ethic led to the creation of her most famous endeavor, the daily fine art photography blog “Lenscratch”, an acknowledged industry leader. Smithson explained that she felt she “was missing an opportunity to teach and learn when writing about myself”, the customary promotional scheme behind blogging. By shining a light on a different photographer every day for the last 7 years, Smithson has established a formidable research tool for photographers and educators. With features like an international clearing house for photography competitions, the recently added “Mixtapes” feature spotlighting photography’s most influential curators and even a nifty new gift shop offering items enabling the photography community to declare solidarity (and defray expenses), “Lenscratch” continues to grow as a vital and relevant resource for the photographic community.
“Love for Sale” from the series “Child’s Play” by Aline Smithson (courtesy of the artist)
In keeping with her continual quest to “take work to the next level”, Smithson has analyzed the full range of her experiences so far and distilled them into “10 Things I’ve Learned”. Ordinarily, I try to keep my blog posts short, but this is sage advice for photographers so I’m reprinting it here, with permission:
1. The way to get your work out into the world is through personal connections and those connections are often made at portfolio reviews.
2. Big important venues are looking for big important work….work that takes effort and time and has something to say. Work that makes us think about the world a little differently.
3. Creating quality work is only part of the key to success. ALL that surrounds your work: how you articulate your work, the promotional materials you use to showcase your work, your attitude, your ability to be professional all matter.
4. You have to keep moving forward, whether you feel like it or not. Those who do ONE thing a day to move their work further along, make things happen. Take a class, learn how to be a better printer, work on your statement, apply to something, read, go to a museum, take a photograph. Live a photographic life.
5. Reach out to other photographers. Make friends. Compliment their work. Celebrate this community. It’s filled with amazing people. More has come to me from connections to other photographers than from any where else.
6. Cohesive bodies of work and consistent branding reflect a dedication to the craft. Remember it’s your PRINT that is for sale, so make stellar prints. And don’t forget this is a business.
7. There is no “they” in this world. Understand that art is subjective and an individual might not resonate to your kind of work. It doesn’t mean that everyone feels that way. There are LOTS of doors to open that might not say “Photo” on the front of it.
8. See the big picture. Understand what an individual, gallery, or organization is looking for, understand where your work fits in the photographic dialogue.
9. You and your world, the way you think, and the things that interest you are the most unique subjects you can bring to the photography dialogue. Often times, the most powerful work can be created by simply telling your story.
10. Thank everyone you can think of. Know that it’s not all about you. Be grateful and generous. Goodwill counts for a lot.
“Inquiring Minds” from the series “Paradise” by Aline Smithson (courtesy of the artist)
I can’t think of a thing say after that. Except, thank you Aline Smithson.
“Father” from the series “Regarding Henry” by Aline Smithson (courtesy of the artist)
For more information about the Griffin Museum of Photography’s 20th Juried Show: The Peter Urban Legacy Exhibition, go to: http://www.griffinmuseum.org/blog/griffin-main-gallery/
To order the Exhibition Catalog for the Griffin’s 20th Juried Show, go to: http://www.griffinmuseum.org/blog/shop/product-category/griffin-museum-publications/
To see my recent review of Aline Smithson’s photographs currently on exhibit at the Drift Gallery, go to: https://whatwillyouremember.com/trip-fantastic-portraits-at-drift-gallery/
To see more of Aline Smithson’s photography, go to: http://alinesmithson.com/
To read “Lenscratch”, go to: http://lenscratch.com/
Feature image: “Arrangement in Green and Black #14, Portrait of the Photographer’s Mother” by Aline Smithson (courtesy of the artist)
“Time Limit” by Aline Smithson (courtesy of the artist)
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