Photo Union Salon
Photo Union was created to bring monthly discussions, assignments and review to help stimulate, guide and inspire photographers of all levels.
Using the underlying principles that define and guide great photography, participants will be encouraged to concept and explore ideas, turning the abstract into the concrete through thought provoking assignments.
Photo Union's goal is to elicit the more conceptual aspects of photography, helping the photographer to define their personal and creative vision, while refining their unique photographic voice.
Those new to photography will find that seeing the world through an artist’s eye not only benefits their work, but in turn their being. More established photographers will appreciate the monthly challenges and lively dialogue.
Photo Union encourages practicing the photographic arts to execute new work each month in response to a given assignment.
Photo Union is about thinking, learning, sharing and growing. It’s about finding your voice, finding inspiration, and limitless exploration of the possible, improbable and impossible.
Photo Union is an accepting and supportive league built on our common love of photography and believes there is an artist in each of us.
Join the Union and free the artist in you today.
Topics that will be discussed and demonstrated:
- Monthly discussions, assignments and review to help stimulate, guide and inspire photographers of all levels.
- Participants will be encouraged to concept and explore ideas,
- Elicit the more conceptual aspects of photography, helping the photographer to define their personal and creative vision
- Limitless exploration of the possible, improbable and impossible
Greetings!
My thanks to all who attended April’s Photo Union – what stimulating work, and what stimulating discussion! I feel very inspired by the amazing work that was presented and by the exchange of ideas surrounding it. Your solutions regarding the concept of presenting a “Sacred Object” were infused with creativity, humor and beauty. Our discussions regarding themes as diverse as inspiration, image manipulation, context and cliches were, for me, thought-provoking, honest, and enriching. My thanks to you, for this.
To review, or in case you were unable to attend April’s session, our assignment this month is borne of Spring, and notions of growth, seeds, and renewal. In brief, the presented hypothesis contends that you, the photographer, have limitless sources of inspiration imminently at hand. To support this idea, I’ve asked each of you to revisit your own archive of existing images and there to hone in on a single image which, in previous edits, you have somehow overlooked, but which you now deem worthy of exploration. You may, if you chose, crop or otherwise manipulate this existing image to express your current aesthetic (though you are not required to do so of course – the image may already exist in perfection!) Once sourced, this archive image will serve as springboard to create a body of three to six new images. In May, I’d like to see your “archive” image, plus the new work you have created around it – ideally, a single, cohesive body of four or more images.
As always, Photo Union is a safe and welcoming environment for sharing work. Your explorations may satisfy you, or may be more experimental or educational in nature, but here at Photo Union are not subject to critical dissemination. Instead, your images are a way for us to come to know one another; to be exposed to fresh work and fresh ideas, and to generate conversation about art and photography most generally. As always, you can chose to participate in the assignment (and I hope you do), but are welcome to participate as an observer exclusively if you find you are too busy, stumped or bashful! As always, alternative solutions are welcome, such as presentation of work not directly created by you to explores our theme, or use of alternative media. And as always, my door is open to you if you have questions about the current assignment or need support along the way.
It is my privilege to engage with your art and your minds – thank you!
-Sally Mars
2013 Salon Schedule (click link to register):
Tuesday, May 7th
Tuesday, June 11th
Tuesday, July 9th
Sally Mars: Sally Mars is Producer of Photography, Broadcast and Film for Photographers and Directors. She also consults as a Project Manager, Creative Director and Marketing Consultant in print and broadcast for select clients including; Prada, Coca Cola, Volvo, Target, Mercedes, Union Pacific, Microsoft, AT&T, Cessna, Fox Sports, Nike, Champion and Reebok. Her agency clients include; Bailey Lauerman, Carmichael Lynch, Clarity Coverdale Fury, Goodby Silverstein, Campbell Mithun Esty, BBDO, GSD&M, Olson, Martin Williams, and Fallon International.
