Seeking Recognition: Tips From Michael Borek

Scranton Lace #7460 ©Michael Borek

Multiple Exposures Gallery (MEG) member Michael Borek is on a roll. In just the past few months alone, he's:

• Earned a spot at Photo '11 at Artisphere
• Reached the final round at Critical Mass
• Launched a solo show at Multiple Exposures Gallery
• Joined an exhibit of PhotoSlam winners at Photoworks at Glen Echo
• Received second place honors in Fotoweek DC's 2011 International Awards Competition 
 

Below, Michael describes his approach to gaining recognition for his photography and how he decides what to submit:

Congratulations on your recent successes. Have you always pursued opportunities for exhibits and awards or does your recent success reflect a new focus on gaining recognition for your work? 

I haven’t really changed my focus, although I think I have gotten better at editing my work.  I have also realized that good photographers show only their best works.  I’ve always pursued what I found interesting, without thinking about whether it will be a success, so that hasn’t changed.

How do you decide which opportunities to pursue? 

I am trying to have my work judged, juried, and hopefully recognized by people from whom I feel I could learn something and/or who work for the galleries or museums that I respect.

Several of your recent winners were from your Scranton Lace Factory series. How do you choose among your many wonderful images when deciding what to submit if there is no specific requirement or theme you must adhere to? 

Scranton Lace #7553 ©Michael Borek

There is a lot of editing behind that. I spent a total of eight days of shooting at the Scranton Lace Factory, and I generated a lot of material. But I spent much more time editing my work, printing proofs, hanging them in my studio and living with them to see whether I still like them after a while. Also, I showed my work to fellow photographers and other artists and discussed my work with them.  Sometimes I followed their advice, other times I didn’t, but their feedback gave me a lot to think about.

After selecting what I feel are the best images comes the hardest part—sequencing them and eliminating those that don’t fit in. I may have several pictures that I feel are good, but if they don’t go with the flow, I don’t submit them. My goal is to have a consistent body of work that flows naturally. And it is good to start and end with your best images.

Many photographers feel rejected when they submit work that isn't selected by the jurors or judges. Have you ever felt similarly frustrated and if so, what did you do to make sure it didn't stop you from pursuing opportunities again? 

I deal with it the same way as I do with parking tickets. When I get a parking ticket, I write the check immediately, mail it, and forget about it. Obviously, I cannot write a check after a rejection and consider it done, but I try not to dwell on it and just move on. There’s no need to read the entire letter that starts: “Dear Artist, there were many excellent entries this year and the judge had hard time deciding, blah blah blah....” One has to realize that there are many more good photographers than opportunities to show. 

Rejection comes with the territory. If you spend time and energy feeling frustrated and sorry for yourself, you are not spending that time and energy on your photography. And there are only two logical explanations for your rejection: either your work wasn’t good or original enough, which you can change, or you are a misunderstood genius and it is just a matter of time before you will be discovered. So it is a win-win situation.

Scranton Lace #7594 ©Michael Borek

But seriously, if you can’t deal with rejection, you are not serious enough about your art. There will always be rejection, and even though it is obviously nice to get recognized, the recognition should be viewed only as a nice side benefit and one should get the main enjoyment from doing the art. Easier said than done, we are all fragile and insecure, but that is the way it is.

What advice do you have for photographers to increase their odds of success when submitting work for awards or exhibits? 

Statistically, you can increase your odds by submitting into more competitions.  Many people feel that $30-40 fee is exorbitant, although they don’t hesitate to spend $1000 on a new lens. New equipment won’t make you a better photographer, but I have found the whole process of submitting your work will – if you do it right.

By “doing it right,” I mean being thoughtful, editing your work, discussing it with people whose judgment you trust, and having an original body of work. And maybe doing a little test. Ask yourself whether you would buy the photographs you are submitting if you saw them in a gallery. If the answer is no, don’t bother submitting them. If they don’t excite you enough to “buy” them, how can you expect that they would be selected from hundreds of other entries?

You also have to decide on the appropriate level. The odds that you will be selected in an international competition with thousands of entries juried by a prestigious curator are very low, particularly if you are a beginner.  It may be better for you to start on a local or regional level. On the other hand, if you are being consistently selected on these levels, it may be time to move up (but prepare yourself to deal with possible rejection).

Janet Matthews included in "Hand+Eye" exhibit

Janet Matthews' image, Snip, was chosen to be included in the juried exhibit Hand+Eye at the Through This Lens gallery in Durham, NC, October 15 - November 16. This exhibit will feature hand-crafted, alternative process photography.  Beginning Saturday, October 22, the exhibit will also be featured at the online gallery on the website www.fotosavant.com, and in an exhibit catalog available at blurb.com, No Alternatives: Selections from Hand+Eye. 

Exhibit at NIH by Danny Conant

Photographs on Gelatin
by Danny Conant   

November 6, 2011 through January 7, 2012

Clinical Center Galleries at NIH
Bethesda, MD

Michael Borek interviewed in the Washington City Paper

Michael Borek, was recently interviewed about his current and previous projects by the Washington City Paper. He talks to Louis Jacobson about "his career, the bridges of Montgomery County, and what he sees amid Scranton's post-industrial decay." You can read the full interview here.


Michael's newest project, Effective Immediately, will be on exhibit at Multiple Exposures Gallery October 4 - November 7.

Upcoming Exhibit

 

Effective Immediately

Images by Michael Borek

 
October 4 - November 7
Opening reception:  Saturday, October 8, 3-5 pm.

Michael Borek will be showing his new project, images shot in an abandoned lace factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Michael Borek - Critical Mass finalist

Kudos to Michael Borek, who recently became a finalist in Photolucida's annual Critical Mass competition.Critical Mass finalists will have their portfolios viewed by a jury of approximately 200 of the world’s best curators, editors, and other professionals who have agreed to view and vote on the finalists’ work. The votes from this jury will determine which photographers will become the Critical Mass Top 50 for 2011. Good luck, Michael!

Michael's work will be on exhibit next month at Multiple Exposures Gallery. 

Back to School?

                                                         © Colleen Henderson

One of the joys of participating in Multiple Exposures Gallery (MEG) is the opportunity to talk to gallery visitors about the creative and technical aspects of photography. Whether they’re full-blown professionals, new purchasers of an entry-level DSLR or mad snappers with their smartphones, we relish our conversations about all things photography.

A question we’re frequently asked is “How can I take photographs like yours?” While everyone has their own vision and style, taking classes and participating in workshops is one of the best ways to simultaneously learn new skills and spark your creativity.

In the coming months, several MEG members will share their knowledge and techniques through classes and workshops open to the public, including:

Creative Photoshop: MEG president Colleen Henderson will help students unleash their creativity in her Creative Photoshop class offered in September in her Bethesda studio. Participants will put away their technical “how-to” manuals and focus instead on exploring and experimenting with the creative options made possible by Photoshop. Colleen offers additional classes throughout the year, including workshops on shooting, editing, printing, portfolio production and alternative processes.

Alternative Photography: Photography without a camera? That’s exactly what MEG member Janet Matthews will teach students in her October workshop on alternative photography techniques at Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, MD. Learn how to make unique contemporary prints through the 19th century process cyanotype, all without pressing the shutter.

Towards a Personal Style:  Starting in late September, MEG member Karen Keating will help intermediate and advanced photographers identify their personal style and the uniqueness of their visions in this class at Photoworks at Glen Echo. Students will discuss readings, the creative process, look at master photographers’ images and work on defining the elements of style found in their own images.

Exhibit Preparation for Photographers: Are you ready to apply for a photography exhibit? Are your images selected, but it’s your first time getting into the nitty-gritty of a photo exhibition? Work with Karen Keating in this late October class at Photoworks to fine tune your edits, artist statement, printing, framing, sequencing, titling and  labeling, ensuring your exhibit is a hit, not a miss.

Mat Cutting Made Simple: As every exhibiting photographer soon learns, matting costs quickly add up! In this December workshop, Karen Keating teaches you how to save money and time by cutting your own mats. A “hands-on” experience, the workshop will be held at Photoworks at Glen Echo.
 
Lightroom Intensive:  Improve your workflow and your images with a workshop on Adobe’s Lightroom. Become a Lightroom power user in just 2 ½ days as MEG vice president Alan Sislen shares the tips and tricks you need to master Lightroom’s powerful, yet user-friendly, capabilities. You’ll  leave this December workshop, held at Alan’s Bethesda studio, with a full  understanding of Lightroom and practical experience applying its many features to your own images.

If you attend one of these classes, you just might find a member of MEG in the seat next to you. As Abigail Adams said, “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.”