Juror: Arthur Meyerson
Gallery exhibition: March 7 - April 6, 2019
Juror's Statement
Like my approach to photography, I had no preconceptions when judging A Color Moment. It was all about the surprise I encountered from one photograph to the next. What I hope resulted is a group of images that illustrate A Color Moment on many levels and genres.
What is a color moment? This is a question I have been asked often in interviews and by workshop participants. For me it begins with the basic difference between color and black and white. Black and white is subtraction or abstraction where as color is addition. And when you add something to a photograph it doesn’t always work. This is the challenge for the color photographer. First, one should have an appreciation for color... all kinds of color palettes... bold, vibrant as well as pastel or monochromatic. All of them have their place in the color photographer’s visual tool kit. The true test for me as to whether the color works in a photograph is if the color were removed, would the photo still hold up or would it lose a key element? Of course I was also looking for well-crafted images as well as those with an interesting point of view. Pictures that not only gave answers but also provoke questions. Pictures that make me stop and look. Those that I kept coming back to because they stayed with me. Each time I reviewed the work, I tried to keep this criteria in mind while making my choices for this show.
The image selected for the Juror’s Award contained all of these elements and many more. The photograph is complex, multi-layered and multi-framed. Color in this photograph serves not only as a descriptor but also reveals a sense of place. It’s a picture that kept me coming back for more and seeing new things each time: the foreground of the man in the back of the vehicle reading his newspaper to the middle ground of the lady with the blue umbrella (and her mirrored shadow) to the background of framed bus riders. All three layers connecting via the use of color and strong composition.
For the image that received the Director’s Award, the red, white and blue bags and flags create a “color rhyme” within the photograph that connect to each other as well as the other color rhyme of the yellow sign and yellow truck. The gentleman with bags in both hands and the determined, straightforward expression walking out of the frame begs the questions, “where is he going?” “What’s in those bags?” For me, these components along with the overall composition come together in a well-captured color moment.
Having had the opportunity, honor and responsibility of judging many photography exhibitions, I can honestly say that A Color Moment may very well be the most difficult, in that there were so many worthy images to select from. To all the participants—my thanks for allowing me the opportunity to review your work. For now, enjoy the moment and go out and make new work!
About the juror
Arthur Meyerson is recognized as one of America’s finest color photographers and a highly sought after workshop instructor. He has travelled throughout the world and all seven continents photographing for advertising, corporate and editorial clients. He is a three-time winner of Adweek’s Southwest Photographer of the Year award, as well as being named one of the 30 best advertising photographers by American Photo. In 1999, Arthur was honored by Nikon’s illustrious Legends Behind the Lens series. His photographs are exhibited internationally, appear in numerous publications and are part of several permanent museum collections. Arthur’s highly acclaimed book, The Color of Light, was published in 2012 and his latest book, The Journey, was released in 2017 to much praise.
An excellent video about Arthur Meyerson and his work can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsxhoYS8K-w
An interesting conversation about color between Arthur Meyerson and John Paul Caponigro can be found here: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/photographers/conversations/arthur-meyerson/
Call for Entries
A successful color photograph finds color as an essential element. Without color, the impact of the image would be significantly reduced. When used well, color coalesces with the other elements of the image to create an atmosphere, an emotional response, a sense of place. Effective use of color can take your breath away, zing your eyes, grab your heart, and celebrate light.
The photographs in this exhibit will be chosen less for technique and more for the pure passion captured in a moment in which color is a key element.
We are very pleased that Arthur Meyerson will be jurying and curating this exhibition. He will select approximately 35 images for exhibition in the gallery, and 35 for our Online Gallery Annex. The recipients of the Juror’s Award and the Director’s Award will each be entitled to a personal portfolio review by Mr. Meyerson.
Information about our printing service and free matting and framing here.
Click on images to enlarge.
© Arthur Meyerson
Fire Drill, Ireland
© Arthur Meyerson
Paper Mill, Alabama
© Arthur Meyerson
Chicken, Brazil
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