Review L.A.

Today I was a volunteer at Review L.A.. Months ago Aline emailed me and suggested it would be a great opportunity to be involved in a portfolio review, so I immediately emailed Maggie at the Center signed up.  One of the benefits of volunteering is being reviewed for free when a review spot opens up. The weeks and days leading up to Review L.A. raced by, and my new and improved portfolio never came together, but portfolio or not, it was a great chance to be inside a portfolio review without the pressure of actually showing my work. I had never actually been to a review, and had heard absolute horror stories about nasty reviewers, tearful photographers, and time and money wasted on portfolio reviews. I was actually okay that I didn't have anything to show, and vow to be ready next time.

Here's the short but sweet (truly sweet) truth. The reviewers are lovely. And the room was filled with diverse photographers who shoot every subject matter you can think of. The reviewers took time with each person, were generous with information and advice and they were the ones who agonized that the time was passing too quickly as I passed by with 5 and 1 minute warnings that their sessions were about to end. 

Cindy Schafer and I were volunteering at the same time. She was able to meet with several reviewers, as were the other volunteers. The funniest thing was trying to explain to a fellow volunteer who Aline was, and as we talked about her, we realized we sounded like cult members, with Aline was our leader. As I looked around the room during each review session, I saw many of Aline's students showing their work, and I suspected that if it were not for Aline, many of us would not be at this stage in our photographic lives. It was clear that "Next Step" students were well put together in their presentation, using presentation boxes, showing beautifully printed series and had "leave behinds". I was surprised to see that this was not the way all photographers show their work. 

When Aline showed up for her reviews, she walked in, elegant as always, and as she passed by each table, several reviewers got up and kissed and hugged her. No other photographer was given this kind of a greeting. And I realized, it is not just us who bask in her glory, but the professional world who also recognizes her importance. She has taken a band of clueless photographers under her wing, and created a strong, confident community, who are now a group of fine artists participating at Review L.A, Photolucida, getting published and showing in Galleries. 

I hope you all can get down to Photo L.A. and Review L.A. this weekend. It really is a great chance to meet other photographers, and see some really great work. If anything, come down and be a part of our community.

Noelle