My first full size solo exhibition opened this week at Farfield Mill Arts and Heritage Centre near Sedbergh. This has been a bit of a learning curve on the basis of it being solo and also over three times as big as anything I'd attempted before. It has made demands in terms of organisation, choice of images and an attempt to keep costs sensible. There was no question of sending lots of files off to be printed, mounted and framed for a seamless display. the content has been drawn from previous exhibition stock, new prints and a number off the walls of the house. The process has caused a number of bouts of introspection - purpose, outcomes, hopes, fears etc. After some thought a number of conclusions are obvious (not new however):
Far from being a moneymaking venture, the exhibition will cost me money. I don't expect even to break even.
There needed to be sufficient prints to make it worthwhile for those people making the effort to visit.
There needed to be a balance in cost between the framing I would wish for and an affordable solution.
I was not prepared to compromise on the quality of the prints however.
In some ways the exhibition has come a little soon for me - however I suspect that might always be the case and regardless, such opportunities when offered should not be turned down.
I have not chosen images based on social media popularity, I've chosen my own favourites. I'm proud of the photographs, whatever the public reaction.
I have been moved and humbled by the level of support, encouragement and good wishes from the landscape photographic community.