SPE National 2013! Amazing. I met and re-met so many wonderful people. I have to admit I was a little nervous that this year might not live up to the past years, how could it? However my doubts were squashed rather quickly. Martin Parr started the even off with humor and wit. I think we all enjoyed his talk and left excited to start the conference. Highlights include: Jill Enfield's alternative process in the digital world lecture (buy her new book soon!). I met Jerry Ueslmann and Maggie Taylor!! They even stopped by the RIT reunion and chatted with us. I also met Bea Nettles (my undergraduate professor's professor). SPE produced a complex family-tree type map of the community network, which was quite entertaining. I had fun reviewing student work and being reviewed myself. There was a packed crowd for the walk through, I wish I had spent more time checking out the other work on display. Lastly we had the best turn out for the dance party in my 5 years at the conference.
While in Chicago I stepped aside from all the amazing people, lectures, and art to contribute to a couple things. Firstly I set aside some time to write down my thoughts on the Canteen Finale. Negative critiques can be a useful part of the process. I took the rare opportunity to share my own critique of the critique process, so here is my two cents:
L E N S C R A T C H: Canteen Magazine Naked Judging: Emma Powell
Later I met up with Thommy and Susannah Panic the amazing photographers behind Orchid And The Bee. I sat for a tintype portrait session (with the help of the talented stylist Lorraine Rudin).
What a weekend!
My work will be included in the live judging for Canteen Magazine's Naked Judging contest tonight. 2/21/13
Naked Judging Finale
Art photography meets American Idol: The transparent conclusion to Naked Judging, Canteen’s 2012 photography contest.
February 21, 7:00 p.m. in Brooklyn (and live-streamed): The top 25 submissions will be judged, panel-discussion style. You, the audience, can interject with questions and insight. You will also choose your own winners.
Judges:
Arnold Lehman, director of the Brooklyn Museum.
Amy Stein, photographer.
Susan Bright, author and curator.
Moderated by Anthony Goicolea, photographer.
Free event, though please RSVP via Facebook.
At NYU-Polytechnic University’s Pfzier Auditorium in the Dibner building: Downtown Brooklyn, 5 MetroTech Center, 11201.
This event will also be live-streamed, with Internet-based questions taken. Livestream begins at 7:00 p.m. on February 21: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm7MMjQAX3w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em11-gdMHMY
Thank you to NYU-Poly for hosting this! Please check out their excellent digital media grad program.
Please note: The point of this is not merely spectacle, but to make a normally opaque process transparent; and to not merely hand down judgement, but to spark an open, honest, and provocative conversation about photography.
For more info about this contest click here.
