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In Stillness

The contemporary photo still life

Darkroom Gallery   /   Deadline: 11/02/16

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In the still life, the extraordinary is found in the ordinary. - Jonathon Jones

The still life has a been a main staple of art and art education since not long after our distant ancestors started to draw on rocks and cave walls. It was inevitable then, that still life photography appeared almost synchronously with the invention of photography. Nineteenth century still life photography, like other art photography of that era, largely imitated classic still life painting; think of bowls of fruit, flower arrangements, and the occasional odd items thrown in, like books, utensils, pens and paper, and even dead birds.
As Jonathon Jones writes in an article titled "Still Life Photography" in The Guardian, the still life was regarded as a humble form by the fine art community, and it was only after 20th century fine art photographers seriously took up the still life that it gained a more exalted status. Edward Weston's sublime black and white rendering of a nautilus shell is an perfect example of what can be done with photography and a simple object; Robert Mapplethorpe's lilies are in the same category. More recently still life photography has embraced a more complex and varied selection of subjects. The photos of contemporary photographer Wolfgang Tillmans are an example of the inclusion of an eclectic array of objects in a still life image.
For this exhibition, Darkroom Gallery is challenging you to come up with your own creative concept of the still life. The only rule is that your photos should include inanimate objects arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner, whether by design or by chance. Lighting, background, and composition can all be manipulated to achieve an image that "speaks" to the viewer.

Location

Darkroom Gallery12 Main StEssex Junction VT USA

Fees

$29 for 5 images

Eligibility

All photographers of all skill levels, international

Requirements

Payment of entry fee

Awards

Juror's Choice receives a 30x48" vinyl exhibit banner featuring their image, free entry into a future exhibition, a free exhibition catalog;
Honorable Mentions receive free exhibition catalogs and free entry in a future exhibition.
People's Choice gains free entry into a future exhibit.

Evaluation Criteria

Once submission for an exhibit close, all entries are submitted to the Juror for that exhibit anonymously. The juror will not know the name of the photographer or if two photos were taken by the same photographer. Jurors are charged with selecting about 45 entries for display in the Darkroom Gallery, in Essex Jct. Vermont. Jurors have sole discretion as to their selections. Please do not attempt to contact jurors to influence their choices. Doing so will disqualify your entry. Our goal is to announce the selected entries for each exhibit within seven days of the submission close date. This will be by email and on the Darkroom Gallery web site.

Contact Information

Ken Signorello
12 Main St
Essex Junction, VT 05452

P: 802-777-3686
W: www.darkroomgallery.com
E: info@darkroomgallery.com