Post ETALAGE

ETALAGE III was easily the busiest exhibition I had been involved with since graduation.  I'm not sure exactly how many people came through the door on the night but it was a continuous flow from start to finish.  Credit immediately must go to the immensely talented Elizabeth Ball for putting together (yet again) such a unique and diverse batch of photographers and their work.  Whatever her plans are when it comes to curating her next show, I do hope my work maintains that same standard I always work towards, or even higher if possible, to be considered for selection.    

I spent the majority of Thursday after arriving in Manchester at midnight Wednesday, setting up my display.  In my eyes I wanted it to be a visual feast, essentially give the viewer a sense of not really knowing exactly where to look or what to focus first.  In some ways it was very much a mirror to being back there in Tsavo. With so much to stare at, so much to constantly take in, I wanted my display to be a showcase of undeniable beauty that is Kenya.
  

Setting up on Thursday

The hours leading up to the private view and I was a complete bag of nerves; it took more than just a few glasses of wine to begin to ease the jitters.  As an artist, I do find it impossible to really truly enjoy these nights.  After all, the opening night of an exhibition is really the night you should be most looking forward too.  Maybe in time I will be less concerned with reaction and who is looking at what and just take in the night like any other visiting member of public would do.  Still, it was over now, and despite the massive amount of positive feedback I did receive, I seemed to choose instead to spend these last few days mainly thinking about the negatives.

Tsavo on display @ ETALAGE III.  Photo by Hazel Edmunds 

Tsavo on display @ ETALAGE III.  Photo by Hazel Edmunds 

At this stage of my career as a photographer, I am still unsure how best to exhibit my work.  Each exhibition I have tried something different - single images, multiple, large, small - and each time I do feel that I am getting a little closer towards that sweet spot of absolute perfection.  The card mounted frames were definitely a step in the right direction in many ways, and far better than large glass frames I had used before yet still, they had their own problems.  With temperature change comes potential bending and this was something I never really considered.  When I do get home I expect a fair few books will be needed to rest on top of these for a while in time for the next exhibition.  Expense and carrying two and from home is another factor I need to look at more and in greater detail, as both seem at the moment to only help damage the old bank balance and back.  Future exhibitions from this point onwards, at least after Devonport Guildhall in June (since I already have the full Tsavo series in print and it would seem daft otherwise not to use these again), I firmly believe I will have cracked it.  Smart, simple, effective.  That was the direction I was going to go in, my mantra from this day forth and the way I was going to exhibit in the future. Though more on that in the future.

For now, with just a few days left of my time in Manchester, all I could think of was getting back home and beginning my next project.  I had never had such an itching to get started on anything before, which perhaps said something about this project and me as a photographer post graduation.  It was going to be a busy few weeks ahead, and a busy few months thereafter.  Devonport exhibition was next, though technically a little something else concerning my new project that was to be undertaken first.

#clue

Tsavo @ ETALAGE III

With ETALAGE III less than a week away, excitement was building towards that ever usual crescendo.  Exhibitions were often like that, and the more I had been involved with, the more I understood was what to come next.  In a few days time, that excitement and that can not wait feeling would quickly turn to panic; nervousness, worry, all these and so much more would set in and begin weighing down heavily on me till I was a blubbering mess.  The problem lay with preparation.  I was never really very good at it.  It was also made worse if the exhibition took place halfway up the country from where I lived, as with this one.  It didn't matter how many times I ticked this and that off my checklist, how many times I went back to my suitcase or travel bag, counted each and every print, the thought of forgetting something was far too great a burden.  Any time I had stayed at friends, it was always a given that I would forget to bring something or simply leave something behind.  So when it came to something far more important like an exhibition as opposed to a mouse for an online gaming weekend, you can see why excitement would eventually turn to horror.  

If all went well though, pre-private view run up and all, happiness, joy, sheer bliss was awaiting open arms thereafter.  And wine.  There was always lots and lots of wine.  I had still so much to do, yet there was a sense of positivity with what had already been done.  Accommodation and travel was booked, additional postcards were ordered and prints framed within a white card mount now lay bubble wrapped like some wildlife lovers goodie bag in my room, waiting for their chance to shine on the walls of AWOL Studios in Manchester.  Boy did they look good.

One of a series of poster designs for Tsavo @ ETALAGE III

Tsavo exhibition postcard ordered through Vistaprint

It wasn’t arrogance or over confidence.  I don’t really believe I excel at either of those two flaws (or traits depending on your point of view).  Tsavo simply looked stunning and I was immensely proud.  The culmination of many months of serious editing and networking, and looking at myself now as a potential brand and professional photographer (with potential I hoped), it was hard not to hold my head up high.  I wasn’t getting carried away too much either, yet I did feel as if I had landed on my feet having jumped out of that graduation plane.  The comfort zone of student life and loans had long left my life, and looking back, I always wondered, particularly during that final year what would happen and how would I handle the forthcoming change into the big wide world.  As much as I missed Plymouth College of Art, as much as I did long to go back, be handed the criteria of a new assignment with the walls of the photographic hub, I was really enjoying moving forwards.  With May and June taken up with two exhibitions and the foundations of my new project almost fully laid and ready to begin post-Manchester, I definitely found the time to smile a little more.

Tsavo in its print entirety

Tsavo was my first project since graduation and I wanted this to represent my skill and passion for the subject.  With life now post-student, projects were no longer developed to meet a set criteria or achieve certain grades.  It had become much bigger than that.  I had a goal, a three year plan devised and helped by a two month self-employment course attended earlier in the year; keep moving forwards, produce new targets, new goals, never let up and never slow down. To get there, I knew I would have to sacrifice a lot, yet the last thing I wanted was for my time as a student to be completely wasted.  I had the skills, the equipment and I had the drive.  Tsavo was my foot in the door, that first step on such a ridiculously tall ladder.  I was going to get there, and something told me that my next project was going to lift me up a few more notches.  Soon I will be able to share what this is with you.  For now, here is a little clue to my forthcoming photographic journey.

My next project #clue

The next few weeks were all about Tsavo though.  With that being the case, it seemed only right to showcase a few images from that very series.  If those were not enough, you can click here to visit the IRIS/ETALAGE website and view the full 51 images that is Tsavo.  I'll be back in a few weeks.  Wish me luck!