Recently, I juried a show of night photography for the Vermont Photo Space Gallery, in Essex Junction, VT.  There were some 440 entries, many quite strong.

I have juried shows before, but not with this many images, and I was the only juror this time.  I was asked by several people what my criteria was to be selected for the final 49.

Starting with this many images, the first item at hand is to eliminate the technically imperfect.  A word of advice:  if you intend to submit your work for a juried show, no matter what the subject, this is the first parameter that jurors use.  In this case, about 100 images were eliminated in the first round.  Next, I eliminated the cliches and shots that did not belong in a night photography show.  The next round is to quickly look at images and find the ones that make me want to look at them for more than a second or so.  This is basically critiquing the composition–was the image “balanced” and did it make my eye move through the image.

The next step was the most difficult, as it was the subjective part.  Since this show was going to be an actual show in a gallery (not just an online show), I wanted to choose not just the good images but to have a variety and a balance to make it an interesting show for viewers.  There is a mix of color and black and white; people and portraiture; different format cameras and alternative processes; verticals and horizontals (and square); images showing movement; and unusual, mysterious images that you can’t really tell what is going on.  Many of the entries pressed the boundries (which I enjoy).

Here is the link to the show and the 49 winners.

http://vermontphotospace.com/index.php/exhibits/current

“Garage”, by Katherine Winter

My pick for best in show

I’d like to hear from some of you on what you think of this show.  It was a good showing with lots of strong work.  Congratulations to all the winners.  Sorry I can’t make the opening.