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It's Amazing What Those Digital Cameras Can Do

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Marlene DeGrood

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I displayed some of my work at a what I thought was going to be an art show. I was totally misled and what I walked into was a flea market. After I got over being totally teed off I set up my little table anyway............big mistake. The people there were so gross, all they came there for was free samples, kettlecorn and cheap watches. I don't think anyone there had more than $3.00 in their pocket. The only other "art" I saw was an old woman selling greeting cards that she made from her greeting card program that she printed on cheap copy type paper and folded in quarters (and not well at that).........to make matters worse.........she was selling them! It was HORRIBLE!!!!

All I heard about my work was........"it's just amazing what those digital cameras can do now days". Are people really that stupid? They don't have a clue what we go through to create a good image. Ok, so I know I should have walked away after I realized I'd been had, but I was there and I thought it would be a learning experience. Well it was! So I wanted to pass this on to warn anyone interested in selling their work at "art shows".......if it isn't a juried show.......forget it!

Thanks for letting me vent!

Marlene
http://www.thedigitalspectrum.com
 
Marlene DeGrood said:
All I heard about my work was........"it's just amazing what those
digital cameras can do now days".
Click to expand...
I get that comment from even my educated friends. They smile and say something like "OH you use Photoshop" as if that does it. Yes, I use photoshop and all I do is open the picture with the program and there you are!
Marlene DeGrood said:
Are people really that stupid?
Click to expand...
Yes.
Marlene DeGrood said:
They don't have a clue what we go through to create a good image.
Click to expand...
That's right. These days I am even hesitant to say digital in the same breath as artist. Sometimes I smile sweetly and say "Yes I use Photoshop and Painter and various other programs to do my art. Even a very simple image takes 50+ steps to acheive and much of this is painted using various digital brushes. No instant art to this" Sometimes that gets through....but not often.

Sometimes they also ask me to show them how to do what I do. Sure, I reply, I will tutor you in the various programs for $100/hour. In 3 or 4 sessions I can teach you to make your photos look better but they will still look like photos. After about 7 months of weekly sessions and, of course practice when I am not there, you should be able to do some of the artistic work.

So I wanted to pass this on to warn
Marlene DeGrood said:
anyone interested in selling their work at "art shows".......if it
isn't a juried show.......forget it!
Click to expand...
It is a good thing to remember.

One thing to consider is that it might just be worth adding something to the image (crayon, pencil, acrylics) and then calling it "mixed media". ;)

Cricket
--
WWW.Casmaran.com
 
Why even give away what medium created your art pieces?? Art is Art.. or am I mistaken!?
Cricketb said:
Cricketb said:
All I heard about my work was........"it's just amazing what those
digital cameras can do now days".
Click to expand...
I get that comment from even my educated friends. They smile and
say something like "OH you use Photoshop" as if that does it. Yes,
I use photoshop and all I do is open the picture with the program
and there you are!
Cricketb said:
Are people really that stupid?
Click to expand...
Yes.
Cricketb said:
They don't have a clue what we go through to create a good image.
Click to expand...
That's right. These days I am even hesitant to say digital in the
same breath as artist. Sometimes I smile sweetly and say "Yes I use
Photoshop and Painter and various other programs to do my art. Even
a very simple image takes 50+ steps to acheive and much of this is
painted using various digital brushes. No instant art to this"
Sometimes that gets through....but not often.

Sometimes they also ask me to show them how to do what I do. Sure,
I reply, I will tutor you in the various programs for $100/hour. In
3 or 4 sessions I can teach you to make your photos look better but
they will still look like photos. After about 7 months of weekly
sessions and, of course practice when I am not there, you should be
able to do some of the artistic work.

So I wanted to pass this on to warn
Cricketb said:
anyone interested in selling their work at "art shows".......if it
isn't a juried show.......forget it!
Click to expand...
It is a good thing to remember.

One thing to consider is that it might just be worth adding
something to the image (crayon, pencil, acrylics) and then calling
it "mixed media". ;)

Cricket
--
WWW.Casmaran.com
Click to expand...
--
Cathy
http://www.jagrdesigns.com
 
Marlene,

While I like to think of the best in people, the "high" IQ's of most people never cease to amaze me!

Here is a ink to the Darwin Awards page: http://www.darwinawards.com . It is, "Named in honor of Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, the Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it."

Here is the http://www.darwinawards.com/legends/ Urban Legands page, which is the best of the best. Try "Gerbil Rocket". It's a bit risque, but helps you ponder the question, "How did the human race last this long?!?

Regarding being clueless, most people have virtually NO understanding of what it takes to be accomplished and successful at any artistic or professional endeaver. Or, as one of my old girlfriends said, "There are two kinds of people in the world - the turkeys and the turkey farmers. It's the responsibility of the turkey farmers to take care of the turkeys."

From one turkey farmer to another...

Best regards,

Dan.
Marlene DeGrood said:
I displayed some of my work at a what I thought was going to be an
art show. I was totally misled and what I walked into was a flea
market. After I got over being totally teed off I set up my little
table anyway............big mistake. The people there were so
gross, all they came there for was free samples, kettlecorn and
cheap watches. I don't think anyone there had more than $3.00 in
their pocket. The only other "art" I saw was an old woman selling
greeting cards that she made from her greeting card program that
she printed on cheap copy type paper and folded in quarters (and
not well at that).........to make matters worse.........she was
selling them! It was HORRIBLE!!!!

All I heard about my work was........"it's just amazing what those
digital cameras can do now days". Are people really that stupid?
They don't have a clue what we go through to create a good image.
Ok, so I know I should have walked away after I realized I'd been
had, but I was there and I thought it would be a learning
experience. Well it was! So I wanted to pass this on to warn
anyone interested in selling their work at "art shows".......if it
isn't a juried show.......forget it!

Thanks for letting me vent!

Marlene
http://www.thedigitalspectrum.com
Click to expand...
 
Don't let the b* ards get ya down Marlene! Find your audience and play to it!
Marlene DeGrood said:
I displayed some of my work at a what I thought was going to be an
art show. I was totally misled and what I walked into was a flea
market. After I got over being totally teed off I set up my little
table anyway............big mistake. The people there were so
gross, all they came there for was free samples, kettlecorn and
cheap watches. I don't think anyone there had more than $3.00 in
their pocket. The only other "art" I saw was an old woman selling
greeting cards that she made from her greeting card program that
she printed on cheap copy type paper and folded in quarters (and
not well at that).........to make matters worse.........she was
selling them! It was HORRIBLE!!!!

All I heard about my work was........"it's just amazing what those
digital cameras can do now days". Are people really that stupid?
They don't have a clue what we go through to create a good image.
Ok, so I know I should have walked away after I realized I'd been
had, but I was there and I thought it would be a learning
experience. Well it was! So I wanted to pass this on to warn
anyone interested in selling their work at "art shows".......if it
isn't a juried show.......forget it!

Thanks for letting me vent!

Marlene
http://www.thedigitalspectrum.com
Click to expand...
--
http://www.profotos.com/pros/profiles/index.cfm?member=612
 
Look on the bright side: You might have inspired a few people to look into digital imaging and artistry. You might have entertained "Angels Unaware."

And it sometimes helps to remember that some folks are not as smart as we think we are. You can't live life looking back at all that you've been through. You pick up the pieces and keep moving on...'cause life doesn't end when the dreams do. For those of you whose sites I have been privileged to visit, damn!!! you do good work. gc
 
Sorry you got misled. I like your work and believe when I am just starting out and have very little in my bag of experience. Put this experience of yours down to wrong audience.

Here's where my economic background comes in, 'being at the right place, at the right time with the right audience'. Even some analog photographers still raise skeptical eyebrows about digital and post editing, what still with laypersons with no such backgrounds. Hope this calms the irritated nerves a little so you can spend that energy to do some more wonderful work.

--
I live to eat therefore I cook well, if I live to photograph would it happen?

Self-deprecation is a very disarming charm. Humility even better.
 
................ how dare you put yourself above others in this way.

It is typical of the self opinionated “upper class” and particularly of the “artistic” variety.

Of course it is amazing what a digital camera and a PC full of “artistic” tools will do today, of course it is and if you think differently you do have a problem with facing real life. But then that’s just what most of you “artists” do in fact is run away from real life situations and try to protect yourself by running in your own circle.

Sorry that the blebs were not good enough for you, being able to afford your work and appreciating your work are different things.

Whilst I can empathise with your situation, as a professional photographer I have been so humiliated myself in the past, but I realised then that there are several markets and different ways to approach them. I move in the “inner circle” quite a bit and see art of all types selling for thousands of folding monies but the average Joe on the street would not give tuppence for them. I also see the worst as “photographic art” – I don’t care how long anything took to make, I once saw an artist spend six months polishing a stone and selling it to the City Council for £400,000 of tax payers money. It was still a stone that the local cats and dogs used as a convenience ~ this particular vulgarity and insult to the average Joe’s intelligence brought down local government and had the offending “art” removed. I see too many plain old photographs given some chemical or digital enhancements and carrying big buck prices for what are essentially just plain old boring photographs, or pigs ears dressed as silk purses.

I have not seen any of your work so I am commenting in general, life’s a *****, ain’t it so.
 
....before you take off on her. Having worked and made a bit of money in many areas of photography over the years, her work IS, IMHO, "upper class". And also, having worked trade shows for many years, I can personally atest to the the fact that a large segment of the population have good hearts, but empty heads...Dave
Ger Bee said:
................ how dare you put yourself above others in this way.

It is typical of the self opinionated “upper class” and
particularly of the “artistic” variety.

Of course it is amazing what a digital camera and a PC full of
“artistic” tools will do today, of course it is and if you think
differently you do have a problem with facing real life. But then
that’s just what most of you “artists” do in fact is run away from
real life situations and try to protect yourself by running in your
own circle.

Sorry that the blebs were not good enough for you, being able to
afford your work and appreciating your work are different things.

Whilst I can empathise with your situation, as a professional
photographer I have been so humiliated myself in the past, but I
realised then that there are several markets and different ways to
approach them. I move in the “inner circle” quite a bit and see art
of all types selling for thousands of folding monies but the
average Joe on the street would not give tuppence for them. I also
see the worst as “photographic art” – I don’t care how long
anything took to make, I once saw an artist spend six months
polishing a stone and selling it to the City Council for £400,000
of tax payers money. It was still a stone that the local cats and
dogs used as a convenience ~ this particular vulgarity and insult
to the average Joe’s intelligence brought down local government and
had the offending “art” removed. I see too many plain old
photographs given some chemical or digital enhancements and
carrying big buck prices for what are essentially just plain old
boring photographs, or pigs ears dressed as silk purses.

I have not seen any of your work so I am commenting in general,
life’s a *****, ain’t it so.
Click to expand...
 
I certainly didn't expect my comments to stir a slam against artists. It was merely an intent to warn others, who might be wishing to sell their work, to be careful about the event in which they choose to sell at.

For the record, Ger Bee, I'm 50 years old and I've been making my living soley from my photography for 29 years.

I think most of the others who replied understood my comments and I appreciated what they added. Sharing experiences is what makes this forum the wonderful place it is. We share.

One last thing, artists have and probably always will be..... stuck with their heads in the clouds. Personally, I've never felt part of the norm, not above and not below, just not on the same page.

Marlene
http://www.thedigitalspectrum.com
 
dean dugger said:
dean dugger said:
For the record, Ger Bee, I'm 50 years old and I've been making my
living soley from my photography for 29 years.
Click to expand...
Marlene, 29 years a pro photog. and you need to vent because you
set up somewhere and it did'nt pan out!
Click to expand...
I think you missed something in my original post. The point was that I was deceived by the promoter into believing that I was setting up at an art show. This event was not even close to an "art show". I was "venting" to caution others into not making the same mistake. It was like trying to sell pot roast at a vegetarian festival.

Marlene
http://www.thedigitalspectrum.com
 
That's a great photo...how much does your camera cost?

I seem to get this question more than...that's a great photo...how did you learn...1) to understand light and how it interacts with the environment 2) what composition is pleasing to the eye 3) how the camera sees differently than the eye and how to manipulate the camera to see what I want it to see 4) physically hold the camera to allow it to produce the image that I want etc. Then again, the person above was trying to pay be a compliment, so I appreciate that they like my photo (which I hope will happen more are I learn to execute steps 1-4 listed above better).

My point is that there are 4 types of people (or rather 3 ways a person may respond to "knowledge"
1) People who "know" and know that they know
2) People who "know" but don't know that they know
3) People who "don't know" and know that they don't know
4) People who "don't know" but don't know that they don't know

We seem to have a lot of #3 walking around, but in a world that is just so complicated, I guess this is not surprising. That's why I never attempt any plumbing in hy home!

Cheers,
JenFu
 
Marlene DeGrood said:
dean dugger said:
Marlene DeGrood said:
For the record, Ger Bee, I'm 50 years old and I've been making my
living soley from my photography for 29 years.
Click to expand...
Marlene, 29 years a pro photog. and you need to vent because you
set up somewhere and it did'nt pan out!
Click to expand...
I think you missed something in my original post. The point was
that I was deceived by the promoter into believing that I was
setting up at an art show. This event was not even close to an
"art show". I was "venting" to caution others into not making the
same mistake. It was like trying to sell pot roast at a vegetarian
festival.

Marlene
http://www.thedigitalspectrum.com
Click to expand...
One other thing.......digital photo/art is my hobby (not my profession), just like the majority who enjoy this forum so much. I come here to learn from others experience as well as share mine. Sure, I would like to sell my digital work, but I'm new at this and I'm going to make mistakes. The artshow circuit is foreign to me and I'm starting out without any experience in this whole new world. I have a lot to learn........like how to make an attractive booth, how to display, how to price & how to apply to a juried show. Attending the wrong show with the wrong market was disheartening and I felt the need to vent to my peers. I'm sorry if you took it wrong.

Marlene
http://www.thedigitalspectrum.com
 
Eva in Stockholm said:
Isn't it fantastic what you can do with a little paint, a brush and
a canvas!
:-)

Eva
Click to expand...
--
rkhndjr

Eva, what is fantastic to me is that so many people replied to this negative post in an equally negative manner. What ever happened to just enjoying your work. Does everyone have to make a buck off their so called art work. This is a retouching forum, but this is the first I have read slanted toward such a commercial aspect.
Russell
 
b.russell smith jr. said:
Eva in Stockholm said:
Isn't it fantastic what you can do with a little paint, a brush and
a canvas!
:-)

Eva
Click to expand...
--
rkhndjr
Eva, what is fantastic to me is that so many people replied to this
negative post in an equally negative manner. What ever happened to
just enjoying your work. Does everyone have to make a buck off
their so called art work. This is a retouching forum, but this is
the first I have read slanted toward such a commercial aspect.
Russell
Click to expand...
Russell,

I apolgise for coming off so negative in my original post. As far as posting a commercial aspect on this forum.......well.......ultimately a lot of retouchers are creating their work to be sold and eventually, if not already, some may seek a venue to sell that work. Of course I enjoy my work or I wouldn't do it, this world is full of people that are happy in making their income from what they are good at doing.

And........talk about negative......."their so called art work"? Is that what you think of the artists on this forum? Well......think again......because some of the most creative work I've seen comes from the samples posted on this forum.
Marlene
http://www.thedigitalspectrum.com
 
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