Need advice please

[Alexandra]

Ive been invited to exhibit some work at a charity exposition and i asked a photographer that im friendly with some advice about what i should exhibit and how to go about it.

The reply i got was:

"One thing that my friend taught me about displaying one's art. If you exhibit and your work needs improvement or isn't that good, people will remember that. Then years down the road you have to undo people perceptions of you. My friend has exhibited in Paris over 20 times. So I respect his wisdom. So I exhibited only after doing photography seriously for 6 years. Selling in the hotels in Hawaii taught me a lot. If I was you, spend more time in developing your photo skills. Sure it's nice to be invited, but I think it will go against you at this point in time. I've been invited many times to exhibit but the timing wasn't good. Oh, I looked at your photos. Some of the concepts are good but your photo skills need a lot of work. If you exhibited those photos, you will be making a fool of yourself. I'm telling you this as a friend. "

Im copying the link for my flickr photostream:

Flickr: Alexandra Dogariu's Photostream

Now i have no pretense of being a professional photographer and i do know that i still have a lot to learn.

However i felt that he was rather harsh in his judgment. Or am i deluding myself thinking that t least some of my work is decent quality?

I feel so down at the moment!

Can you please give me your honest opinion?

Ah, the exposition is an amateur exposition with works (any type of art, not only photography) done by women that went through domestic violence, so its not a professional exposition...

Anyways, can you please take the time and tell me what you think?

Thank you so much for all your time...

Alexandra

[Footski]

I think your work is of a very high standard, very much worth exhibiting as you describe. Your Photographer "friend" is not being friendly nor in my opinion as honest as he should have been. Many of those photos would go towards making up a good portfolio of your work, so you go for it and enjoy the experience.

Barry

[Alexandra]

Thank you so so much! It makes me feel better... I tend to be overly critical of my work (not only on photography, but in all i do) and i just couldnt understand how in the world i misjudged my own work so badly...

My confidence is really low now...

alexandra

Photography is an art. Some people will look at art and say "Masterpiece!" and some will say "Crap" to the same piece. I see this constantly within my own work, as some people love a shot that I don't particularly like.

What I'm saying is, forget your friend. Many people will look at your work. Some will love it, and some won't. If they don't like it, they won't remember you. If they do, they'll buy your work

For instance, I can rattle off at least 10 people on flickr with outstanding photos, but I can't name 1 bad one.

[fletch]

I don't want to be overly critical but I don't see a exhibition when I go to your photostream. Some nice shots but some not so good with technical issues. There isn't really any consistency which is what you need for a exhibition, your friend may have been trying to give you a subtle hint.

Like I said don't take the critisism personally as they is plenty to like about your photos.

[Alexandra]

Im only going to exhibit between 4-8 photographs... I know there is no consistency in my photostream. Those are just some examples of my work.

As i openly admitted i am a beginner and i can only guess that once i do decide what area of photography i want to go in, i will be more consistent. At the moment i am still trying to find my own style and i will be focusing on a common theme in the pics i choose to exhibit...

As for my friend, he was aware how many pics im going to show and about the fact that it is an amateur exhibition, not even dedicated to photography, but to art creating by women that went through hell and back.

Im not that deluded to think that i am good enough for a professional expo, and if it would have been a pro one, i would have declined...

[Alexandra]

Just to add... Some of the pics i put on my flickr are sentimental, for family and friends, and i would not include in a portfolio...

[sk66]

I disagree with your friends comment. You can exhibit all you want and you will never leave a lasting impression until you make a positive impression. People don't have the time/energy/drive/need to remember your work if it's "so-so" (It is somewhat different if you are doing your own show, especially if it is reviewed). It's not nearly the same as selling someone substandard work or blowing an assignment.
And like others have said...art (artistic quality) is subjective anyways.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by fletch

I don't want to be overly critical but I don't see a exhibition when I go to your photostream. Some nice shots but some not so good with technical issues. There isn't really any consistency which is what you need for a exhibition, your friend may have been trying to give you a subtle hint.

Like I said don't take the critisism personally as they is plenty to like about your photos.

+1. Youve got some good stuff, but nothing I would consider particularly exhibition worthy.

[FormElement]

+1. You've got some good stuff, but nothing I would consider particularly exhibition worthy.

My sentiment is the same,

HOWEVER, this is not the Louvre she is talking about. It's a amateur charity exhibition not even focused on photography. Ive seen a lot of really crappy "art" exhibited for sale in coffee shops just because the artist had the guts and naivety to exhibit. I even watched some people "oooh" and "aaah" over it. Heck, I was encouraged, and reluctantly exhibited a couple shots that I absolutely gag over today. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I also discovered one that I liked a little more after exhibition (and then gave it to a very happy friend as a gift, because nobody bought it!).

From what I understand, you have nothing to lose, and something to gain. Except of course the cost of prints and framing. Don't underestimate that part. Don't exhibit any prints that you can't afford to give as a gift or hang on your wall, because that's exactly where most of it will probably end up. Unless you are an experienced and paid pro, that's a fact of life.