The Show
Two weeks and over six thousand guests later and I think we can categorically say that the Natural Wonders exhibition and book launch has been a rip-roaring success! Many thanks to all of you who attended and please find some initial thoughts from the show...
Build it and they will come
Having personally taken ‘a journey of a thousand miles’, I cannot begin to tell you how important it is to have faith in both yourself and your goals. For example, when I first raised the idea of self-publishing an inaugural book covering 24 countries and 6 continents, there were many who doubted that it would come to fruition. However, passion and tenacity of purpose are powerful virtues and they will guide you through the most precarious of physical, mental and financial journeys.
Get out from behind the camera
In general, photographers are a curious breed of individuals who are most at home behind the camera. Although this trait is driven both by shyness and an aversion to criticism, I have come to understand that interaction and honest feedback (both positive and negative) can only make you a better artist.
Shoot for yourself
During the first week, I noticed a lady having what can only be described as an allergic reaction to ‘Highland Hope’. Feeling compelled to talk to her personally, it was soon clear that the sight of rainbows and foreboding clouds had induced a ‘trigger memory’ involving her childhood fear of thunder and lighting.
Compare and contrast this with another lady a week later. She had recently moved from her lake-side abode to the hectic clamour of a big city. Watching her eyes swell with tears upon viewing ‘Solitude’ for the first time was probably one of the most defining moments of the exhibition (so much so, it nearly induced a similar reaction in me).
The moral here is that you cannot - and must not - be responsible for the reaction to your work. All you can do is shoot to make yourself happy and then hope that someone tunes in to your precise artistic wavelength.
Landscape photography as a valid art form and business
I have talked to many professional friends in the last month (including Joe Cornish last week) and they have all noted that it’s getting more and more difficult to make landscape photography ‘work’. Whilst I believe there is always a market for a unique eye, it amazes me that the sponsorship of young talented individuals in this field of endeavour is being sorely overlooked by large corporations and Governments (particularly in the UK). Having heard testimony from a number of eager souls during the show, I can tell you that you will be hearing a lot more from me on this in the coming months.
Universal appreciation for Mother Nature
After The Guardian, UKlandscape.net, The Mail on Sunday and Wanderlust picked up the journey, a trickle of enquires soon became a flood. Thereafter, the Australians came on board and then La Repubblica from Italy sent the visitor numbers through the roof! The resulting coverage (including the blogsphere) has only confirmed to me the global appreciation for Mother Nature. In many, many ways she is the true star of this journey...
Exhibitions ain’t easy
Finally, all I can say is that from planning through to set-up and onto showtime and de-rigging, exhibitions are non-stop, hard work!!
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There will be much more to come from me on each of these points in due course. However, the show now moves on (a smaller exhibition is planned for May/June and then a repeat visit to the.oxo@gallery in November/December with new material) and I can only restate my gratitude to all the thousands of you who attended 'Natural Wonders: A Panoramic Vision'.
For those of you that couldn’t make it, please make sure you buy the book and try to join in on the fun during the upcoming shows!
With kindest regards
Jaspal
info@jaspaljandu.com
Jaspal Jandu Photography
