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!