It has been a fun week.  Actually it started at the end of June when friends flew down from the northeast to join us for our first view of our exhibition Tropical Impressions from Belize in the Sister Galleries at Alamance County Arts Council. We were in Europe running three workshops when the show was hung in early June.

Fortunately, a good friend photographed it for us, so at least we could get an idea of how good it looked on the walls.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDwzbi7aZYU]For a larger version of the video, go to our YouTube site.

The reception was Tuesday, July 12, a bit over a month after the show was hung. We went to the galleries late morning to do a Lunch and Learn. It was very well attended, and our audience was most enthusiastic. We talked about the passion of photography and what goes into making a photograph, both on the artistic and patience side as well as the post-production side.

Yes, working on images in post-processing. That takes a lot of time if you are preparing for an exhibition such as this one.

It took Arnie and me about a year and a half to get ready for this show. 50 large photographs represent a lot of hours.

First, there’s the waiting for the right light, and returning when it doesn’t happen on a particular day or days. It took two visits to Belize to gather the work we needed, and that was only the beginning.

There were a number of test prints, sometimes several for one image, and retweaking of layers in CS5 to bring out the luminosity and colors we saw in the plants when we photographed them. John Sexton and Gene Smith do/did it in the darkroom with their spectacular black-and-white prints. We must do it in the digital darkroom. The principles are exactly the same; the tools are just different.

There is matting and framing. Our house was Framing Central this past winter/spring. The frame we used for many years was no longer available, so we had to scramble to find something that suited us. That wasn’t easy, or should I say, it was easy, but often not affordable for so large a project.

The photographs had to be hinged to the mats with archival, acid-free, linen tape and reinforced. Occasionally, a print would get creased in the process, and we would have to get another print and start again. Very frustrating.

As I matted, Arnie cleaned glass, turning it this way and that to make sure there were no errant streaks. I’d go over them in the frame with a static brush to remove any dust specs that dared to land on the glass.

Tic-TUNK, tic-TUNK, tic-TUNK went my Framemaster as I applied the framing points. Then more linen tape to seal the back against tiny critters that might wander in uninvited, given the opportunity.

Yes, time intensive, and all between workshops. The living room was filled with the cartons the frames came in, and the prints were layered in protective sleeves on top. The dining-room table was my work bench, and Arnie had two more out in the garage on saw horses for glass cleaning. The stacks grew deeper in the dining room as we completed each of the 50 large photographs, until it became difficult to even enter the room.

When we had people over for dinner, we just hung out in the kitchen and ate there. Or out on the deck if the weather cooperated.

When we delivered all the framed prints, we remarked that we had gained back a house. It was wonderful, and MooseCat was most appreciative, as his downstairs bed had been inaccessible, and he didn’t understand why. After all, it’s his house, too!

As we sent out invitations for the reception, we got many responses, complimenting us on the two photographs used in the flyers. People were really looking forward to seeing the show and enjoying the festive gathering that the reception promised to be.

A friend (and a multi-time alumnus of our workshops) flew in from California for the exhibit, combining that with several days of business to pay for the airfare (very practical). He and an associate met us at the reception. Everything was set up. The wine glasses were lined up neatly, and the food looked and tasted delectable. This was all done by volunteers, and we were much impressed.

We straightened photographs here and there. The building is on a main street, and the vibration of trucks and traffic jiggles frames off to an angle. Maybe not much, but I am cursed with a very annoying recognition of what is plumb and what is not.

Everything looked great, and the rest of the guests started to arrive. I’m not sure what the final count was, but it may have been well over 60. People came in from the coast, several hours away. One of our alumni drove down from New Jersey and combined the trip with a visit with family. Others traveled down from the Virginia mountains. There were those whom we did not know. Perhaps they saw the article in the paper. We were very pleased that so many people came and loved the show. We are still getting e-mails with wonderful comments.

It makes it all worth the time and effort that went into the preparation. But then, few things in life that are worth it do not involve commitment and hard work.

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