Review Santa Fe, 2010

© Manjari Sharma, 2010

Center’s Review Santa Fe is a premier juried portfolio review event in the U.S. It is a weekend conference designed for photographers who have created a project or series and are seeking feedback, critical discourse and networking opportunities with professionals looking for new work. Up to 100 photographers are selected to meet with esteemed curators, editors, publishers, gallerists. Photographers receive 9 twenty-minute portfolio reviews, a night of Portfolio Viewing open to the public and inclusion in the online Photographers Listing.

I was humbled to be juried in with a group of fantastic shooters. Names that I’ve read that have reappeared on all the same haunts all of us photo junkies admire and respect. Andy Adams of Flak Photo and Aline Smithson of Lenscratch both of who have so kindly featured my work are currently spotlighting a selection of their favorite photographers from the mix. Many of who I greatly respect (and have perhaps even come to love!)

So let me begin with thanking to Sam Portera. Sam is a fantastic friend, great shooter and also sits on the board of PhotoNola, Many of pictures below are Sam’s, fantastic coverage of the event! Between him and I, this post is complete! David Bram of Fraction magazine also made this experience unforgettable. A thousand thank yous!

So I’ll always remember walking away from the Hilton which was a concrete block that held all of us artists in one place. It was my first understanding of the gorgeous landscape that surrounded us. Santa Fe was everything people said it would be, magical.

© Manjari Sharma, 2010

The kick of for this event was held at Zane Bennet Contemporary Art Gallery This welcome event was a perfect relaxer for everyone. Everyone got to know each other and it was great way to honor some of winners for another competition that the centre holds called the Project Awards. My home girl Justine Reyes, Dana Popa, Jonathan Blaustein and Sam Comen are some of the immediate names that come to mind. Brilliant to see their work on the walls. Here are a few images form the welcome event.

© Sam Portera, 2010

© Sam Portera, 2010

In the picture above from the left is myself, Ellen Rennard, Melanie Mcwhorter and Isa Leshko. All terrific ladies with passionate work to boot.

We walked over to a restaurant as group of 25 and pretty much took over the place. The restaurant was right next to the New mexico Rail runner train station. I love trains and above ground train stations, the location was perfect.

© Manjari Sharma, 2010

This is one of the last images of me shot at night. So the story goes, if there is a record of a picture of me making a moustache with my hair, the night must have been super swell :). The image below my manly mustache is one of the last batches of color in the sky for the night.

© Sam Portera, 2010
© Manjari Sharma, 2010

The next day everyone pretty much hit the ground running. The portfolio reviews happened in this grandioso room where you entered in with your portfolio and spent an intense 20 minutes with selected reviewers. The week prior to the event everyone had to send in their selections. This is what Review Santa fe is known for, an incredible list of reviewers.

© Sam Portera, 2010

Same day in the evening the room transformed into a space for an open public viewing which consisted of you displaying your wares and getting hit up by locals and pleasant surprises! Reviewers who you were hoping would swing by to look at your work, especially if you did not score them in your preferred list. The room was buzzing with energy, people walking around trying to inhale as much work as they can in the two hour time slot! Here are a few glimpses of the room and my table.

© Sam Portera, 2010

© Dana Sabastian

I can’t believe that there was a time I was thinking about not going?! What I have no pictures of is “The Chapel” a room dedicated for photographers. It was where all of us went to have our own show and tell session, feeding off of each other’s energies. I cannot think of a better way to get to learn about the community, myself and my work. Review Santa Fe is sure to burn a hole in my memory forever. Michael Sabastian’s wife Dana took the above image and Michael was probably one of the kindest men floating around in the conference. Talented, sweet and above all a friend in need 🙂
The last day wrapped up with a goodbye reception that was held at the museum! Here is final image. So the running joke for me was that I felt like all the homes with this particular style of architectural qualities resembled sopapillas! What say? 😉

In the days to come I will be spot lighting a few of my favorite poeple’s works; Carl Wooley, & Sarah Szwajkos both have a special place in my heart, so stay tuned for more Review Santa Fe recall!

Cows and dreams

This image is dedicated to dreamy cows I couldn’t resist. It is also an ode to the water series on my website I created the water work previously in the year and haven’t since made images that invoke a similar aesthetic. Here’s to cows, the ocean and California.

Hellen Van Meene

Inspiration has found a new face  for me, Hellen van Meene lives in Heiloo, Netherlands. I am stunned by so many of her images. The great part about all of this, Helen is coming to NYC. What is even better is that In this public lecture, van Meene talks with Jörg Colberg, the founder and editor of the pioneering photo blog Conscientious. Here are the details. Hellen van Meene in Conversation with Jörg Colberg Monday, September 14, 7pm SVA Theatre, 333 West 23 Street Free and open to the public, click here to get more info. The sadest part of all of this, I leave town for a 12 day trip on September 12th and will be missing this amazing event. But this post os for the greater good of mankind. Those of you who can make it, I’m jealous.

In between places

This shot was taken during a very early walk. It was one of the first views as the road turned from concrete to dirt. The light in the distance looked promising…

Gabriela

The images change but the muse remains the same. Gabriela , kravakanela!

Northampton, MA

This town, seemed to serve as much inspiration, the scenes kept changing but the light remained even keel beautiful.

New images from Northampton, MA

My photobuddy Gabriela Herman and I have lately spent time geeking out about photography. We were away to Northampton, MA for a photo workshop and we decided to collaborate and make these images. By virtue of being around, we have lately turned into each others muses! Gabi is not only beautiful but also most certainly bold!

Glimpses from the Workshop

If you want to see some images of interaction and visualize the people, the space and how intimate the experience was, click on this.

The Workshop

Pictured above starting from the left are Jörg Colberg, his wife Karen in the centre and then Robert Lyons on the right. I recently attended a pretty awesome workshop, the teachers were Jorg Colberg and Robert Lyons…
Both inspirational.

Robert Lyons

Robert is what I would like to call a “hyphenate”. Robert studied under Minor White, went to school with Steven Shore, Robert has published books on Africa and Rwanda and my personal favorite on his wife Miriam. Robert loves to listens to good Jazz on true vinyl, has a beautiful studio in Northampton and shuttles back and forth between Berlin and Massachusetts. Robert teaches at ICP and in Berlin but is currently working on revolutionary graduate program at the Hartford University, one that might change the way MFA’s are perceived for the working professional. The images above are some of my favorite images form his work and they are of his wife Miriam. An Excellent teacher who has the tact to tell your mistakes and fashion you from the same mud you are made of but make you better.

Jörg Colberg

While this man doesn’t need introduction, Let me give you a short one, Jörg started a blog called Conscientious, Conscientious changed the presence of online photo critiquing world forever. The archives to his blog date back to 2002, perhaps before any of us knew how important blogging would become for all of us in the years to come. On Colberg’s first page of posts if you look back into July 2002, he talks about vintage synthesizers, cibachromes and Yousuf Karsh. In retrospect, that all in itself should have been enough for all of us to know what Conscientious was capable of. In Germany Jörg received a Ph.D. in astrophysics and today is considered an extremely distinguished Contemporary Photo critic. The image above is one of my favorites bodies of work from his website called “No Place Like The Cape”. To me the most amazing thing was the energy he brought to reviewing other peoples work, meaning all of us. And the same energy was visible when he brought a rare and tiny TIntype to class along his precious NAS lenses to share with his 48 hr student body.

Bottom line: I am fortunate to be given a pep talk from some of the best and most respected names in the industry. Final words from both of these men: Keep shooting… don’t ever stop shooting and always remember that talent is no license to take hard work for granted.