Stories to Warm the Heart - Critical Mass 2010

As we (in the US) prepare for Thanksgiving festivities, Photolucida is pleased to share some recent Critical Mass Success Stories to warm the heart and help put you in a festive mood...

Sol Neelman recently wrote to tell me this:

"I randomly met Alexa Becker from Kehrer Publishing last month during the Frankfurt Book Fair. She surprised me when she said she knew of - and loved - my work from judging Critical Mass. We spent a great deal of time talking about my book project and looking over my images. Before I left, she offered me a letter of intent. Looks like things are on track for a book release in mid 2011. I'm very excited, to say the least."

Isa Leshko shared:

"Just wanted to share with you a positive outcome from my involvement with Critical Mass. I was offered representation and a solo show with the Corden/Potts Gallery in San Francisco! They saw my work on CM and interestingly, they contacted me the day the top 50 list was announced...I'm not sure this opportunity would have presented itself had it not been for CM."

Another photographer said:

"I am sure [Critical Mass] will help me a lot and I am already going to get a show case entry in a well known blog, because they saw my work at Critical Mass."

Michael Sebastian also wrote:

"Not ten minutes after your email arrived the other day, I got another from a photo editor [who had] been a juror fro CM this year, and saw my work. One of my images will illustrate an upcoming story in [this juror's publication.]

I hope it's the start of other opportunities to come; this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't participated in Critical Mass 2010."

We hope this is the start of many, many more opportunities to come for all of our Critical Mass entrants!

Critical Mass Awards Announcements

There were a lot of great options to choose from this year, but we've narrowed it down to the following six selected from the Top 50. Congratulations to the following book award finalists!

Christopher Capozziello

Natan Dvir

Justine Reyes

Jeff Rich

Pavel Maria Smejkal

Jamey Stillings

They will be submitting proposals, of the work they submitted to Critical Mass 2010, for consideration to receive the Critical Mass 2010 Book Award. We will announce the Book Award in early 2011. Check back for updates, then!

Also, we are pleased to share that Blue Sky has awarded Mitch Dobrowner the Solo Exhibition that will be shown at Blue Sky in April 2011.

Congratulations to the above photographers and also to everyone who submitted to Critical Mass 2010. We have started receiving emails from participants who have already started to make connections for assignments, book publishing, and gallery representation. More stories soon!

LAST CHANCE FOR NEW DIRECTIONS 2011

DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 20TH:

the deadline for wallspace gallery's annual New Directions show is coming up this Saturday, November 20th!

curated by David Bram, Founder and Editor of Fraction magazine:

this year's theme: The Portrait: "Moments of Being"

As photographers, we look for faces and expressions that tell stories. We look for character. We look for emotion.

We look for the hook, that moment of being that creates a compelling portrait. Like a modern physiognomy, a portrait tells a story equal parts subject and photographer in a single moment.

As the curator of this show, I will be looking for portraits that are edgy and daring. I want more than the traditional head shot. I want to see work that pushes the boundaries of what is normally called a portrait. (Please note: For this show, my interests are not in photo-journalistic photographs of the homeless, the needy, or third world subjects)

Photographs by Emmet Gowin and Sally Mann (for example) show a trust and a relationship between the photographer and the subject. There is a connection that is clear to the viewer; this is what I am looking for. I will also be looking for unique styles and interesting compositions. The images might be quiet, honest, sexually charged, or pure. These portraits, color or black and white, should convey a unique and powerful moment of life.

-David Bram

ALL THE INFO YOU NEED IS RIGHT HERE

© Emmet Gowin, Nancy, Danville, Virginia, 1965

(my first love. photographically speaking)

"Northwest Territory: Women in Photography" on Photo Radio!

A great week-end was had here in Portland at NWSPE!

Photolucida was a happy sponsor, and organized a dynamic panel titled "Northwest Territory: Women in Photography", comprised of 9 women from the Pacific Northwest and moderated by Julia Dolan, Portland Art Museum Curator of Photography.

Through the magic of Photo Radio, you can hear it, too! Grab a coffee, and pull up a chair, and click on the link above!