Douglas Beasley Photography

Vision + Spirit Video by Boreal Sky

2012-01-26T22:39:00.000-06:00

Brett Kosmider of Boreal Sky made this video of me at my Saint Paul home and while teaching a photo workshop at the Trade River Retreat Center (my cabin) in NW Wisconsin. I think he did a great job of both filming and editing but even more importantly in portraying the spirit of what my teaching is about. I hope you will take a look and let me know what you think...

Brett is also the editor and first camera operator of the Vinyasa Yoga video I directed for Amy Patee. See a preview here.

More of Brett's film work can be seen at borealsky.com

Artist's Residency Winners Announced

2011-08-11T15:39:00.000-05:00

Sarah Rust Sampedro is this year's winner of the Vision Quest Photo Workshops one week Artist's Residency Grant at the Trade River Retreat Center in NW Wisconsin. Not only were her photos excellent but her artists statement and residency proposal were well written, concise and easy to understand. She was the unanimous choice of all three jurors. There is a selection of her images below. Congratulations Sarah!

Winner of a one week Trade River Retreat Center Artist's Residency:

Sarah Rust Sampedro

www.sarahsampedro.com

We are awarding Merit Awards towards a Mentorship or an Artist's Residency at the Trade River Retreat Center to:

Ken Jackson

Karen Klien

Joseph O'Leary

Mary Ann Reilly

Xiomara Castro

We are awarding Honorable Mention Awards towards a Mentorship or an Artist's Residency at the Trade River Retreat Center to:

Travis Krumholz

Shamir Kansakar

Cecilia Rachal

Congratulations on all the excellent work! Thank you to all who applied.

We saw some excellent photographs but also noted some common problems. Many of the applications had good individual images but did not present a cohesive body of work. Others had convoluted or hard to decipher artist statements with a lot of 'art speak' that used art-world terms that made little or no sense or had any real meaning. Remember - jurors are reading multiple statements and the more succinct and easy to understand the better. We also had to disqualify a number of people for not following directions: some artist's statements were way too long and exceeded the 500 word limit, some forgot to send required documents. It is a good reminder of how important attention to detail is in our artistic life; not just in our imagery but in all that we do.

Sarah Rust Sampedro's photos exploring Art and Motherhood:

Earth Meets Spirit special print offer

2011-07-22T17:13:00.000-05:00

My photo book "Earth Meets Spirit: A Journey Through the Sacred Landscape" is being published by 5 Continents Editions in Milan Italy and being distributed in North America by Abrams.

The beautifully designed 112 page book is printed on premium paper, with a forward from Native American activist Winona LaDuke, an introduction by photo historian and writer George Slade.

We are having a limited number of copies shipped from Italy directly to Minnesota for promotion and direct sales to workshop students (all commercial/wholesale/bookstore sales in North America will go through Abrams). To raise funds for the exorbitant printing and production costs of these copies I am offering a very attractive discount on a signed, archival photo print on heavy premium paper along with a signed copy of the book.

1) To receive a signed copy of the book and your choice of any one of the five limited edition, archival, piezo prints (attached below) in 13 x 19, signed (regularly $450 for the print + $40 book): $250 plus $20 shipping and handling

2) To receive a signed copy of the book and your choice of any one of the five, limited edition, archival piezo prints (attached below) in 8.5 x 11, signed (regularly $250 for the print + $40 book): $125 plus $15 shipping and handling

3) To receive a signed copy of the book: $40 includes shipping and handling

To place your order: Email your credit card number (putting last digits and exp. date in a separate following email), call the studio at 651-644-1400 or send a check to 2370 Hendon Ave, St Paul, MN 55108.

Remember to include your shipping address. Your signed print will be shipped in one to two weeks and the signed book shipped separately upon arrival from the publisher.

Thank you very much for your help!

doug

The Linden Center, Yunnan Provence, SW China

2011-03-07T19:04:00.000-06:00

Here are some iPhone photos showing The Linden Center, our home in Xizhou, China for the "Spirit of the Middle Kingdom of China" workshop.

Yunnan Provence is truly one of the most incredible places I have ever been and I made more photos there in SW China than I have anywhere in a long time. Plans are already underway to repeat this workshop next April but it will probably fill fast as several people have already requested space, so let me know if you want me to hold a spot for you. Please consider joining us then for an unforgettable adventure.

To see any of the photos larger click on image but please go to their website to see much better photos than my iPhone snapshots! I will try and post some of my B&W photos made on medium format film as they are available in the coming months...

Sign at street entrance

Entry

Detail over entry door

One of five courtyards inside Linden Center

One of many sculptures and wall paintings

Entry to dining hall

Preparing dinner in kitchen

Garden inside back courtyard

View from rooftop terrace

My bathroom!

Door knocker

The Linden Center from village of Xizhou

iPhone photos from China

2011-03-07T15:12:00.000-06:00

Here are a few iPhone photos from my workshop in SW China. I also shot almost 40 rolls of 120mm TriX but you (and I) will have to wait to see those until after the film is processed!

It was an amazing trip and The Linden Center in Xizhou was an incredible place for our workshop to land after several days of traveling thru the dramatic mountains.

If you want to see any of the photos larger just click on the image.

HVD

2011-02-14T21:48:00.000-06:00

A Japanese poem found on the back of one of my old T-shirts at the cabin this past weekend:

Love

Like a

Half pint

Of tequila

Coursing

Through My

Soul

Happy Valentines Day everybody!

'Graphic Recording' of my New York Open Center talk

2011-02-09T22:41:00.000-06:00

In January I gave a talk about my photography at the New York Open Center in Midtown Manhattan, where I was also teaching a Zen & the Art of Photography workshop. In attendance that night was Heather Willems, once a photo assistant I worked with on a large annual report travel assignment several years ago. She was and still is a very talented photographer but she is now also doing 'graphic recording' of meetings and events for numerous corporate clients and events. During my slide show/lecture she made the amazing graphic drawing above, taken from her imaginative interpretation of things I said, images I showed and questions people asked.

Here is a link to her Line By Line blog.

To see this fantastic drawing in a larger, easier to read, format visit Heather's Flicker site.

Two solo exhibits opening in Genoa, Italy

2010-09-27T23:06:00.001-05:00

I would like to invite all of you to attend the openings of my two solo exhibits in beautiful Genoa, Italy. If you join us I promise you will be well fed and never thirsty!

VisionQuesT Gallery
Genoa, Italy
"Sacred Landscape" by Douglas Beasley
Opening Thursday September 30, 2010
6:30 PM until Midnight
www.visionquest.it

Also:
Castello D'Albertis Museum
Genoa, Italy
"North American Sacred Landscape" by Douglas Beasley
Unveiling from the rooftop skylight, the premiere installation of an exhibit of photographs in the permanent collection
Thursday October, 7, 2010
6:00 PM
www.castellodalbertiseventi.it

MN Original TV Series

2010-08-26T19:48:00.000-05:00

The Twin Cities Public Television series mn orignal did an artist's profile on me that aired earlier this summer. We spent an interesting afternoon together late last winter, with the small crew doing an interview in my home and then driving around together looking for something for them to film me making photographs of. If you missed it you can view it on their website.

If you are in Woodstock NY this Saturday night...

2010-08-19T23:16:00.000-05:00

Remembering Dave Kemmerling

2010-07-26T16:04:00.001-05:00

It is very sad to announce the passing of a dear friend of Vision Quest Photo Workshops, Dave Kemmerling. Dave died last Tuesday July 20th, 2010 at the age of 50 after a long battle with depression.

He was our male model at numerous workshops including at least 4 of our annual Dramatic Portrait: People and Nudes in the Badlands in South Dakota as well as in Door Co, WI and recently at the the Mpls Photo Center in Minnesota.

Dave was very passionate with all he approached in life. He had an admirable sense of integrity and full commitment to anything that he chose to take on.

His obituary and details of his memorial service on Tuesday afternoon July 26 can be found in the Star Tribune.

May you finally rest in peace. You will be missed.

Photographer and Darkroom Alchemist Michael Donner

2010-06-17T12:20:00.000-05:00

There is a photographer Michael Donnor, that I would like to introduce you to. I first met him as one of my students at Santa Fe Workshops in NM while he was still in college. He then came to the annual Badlands SD figure workshop the summer after graduation. Coming full circle, our next encounter was as my class assistant for Zen & the Art of Photography in Santa Fe. He is a great guy and it is no wonder he did so well there that they have asked him back to teach a B&W workshop for young photographers this summer. Congratulations and continued success Donnor!

Michael's photography has been evolving steadily as well. He is dedicated to his craft yet has a unique style (not just a platitude but his style actually is unique!) and has an energetic vision that is well worth checking out. Here is a link to his website.

He has also opened Red House Darkroom in a barn on his family's land outside of Buffalo, New York. He specializes in custom hand-made wet darkroom prints and is quickly developing a reputation for quality with a nationally recognized client base.

Here are a couple samples of his photography, but do go to his website to see more.

Mentoring and One-On-One Custom Workshops now available!

2010-05-24T19:20:00.003-05:00

I am now now offering a year-long Mentoring and One-On-One custom workshops thru Vision Quest Photo Workshops. There is information below or follow the links to get more details on the web page for each offering.

One Year Mentorship Program
Focus your creative vision, develop your photographic talents, and advance your artistic and career goals with a year-long mentorship.

Your mentorship with Doug begins with a three-day intensive private workshop held at Doug's office/studio in Saint Paul, MN, the Trade River Retreat Center in Northwestern Wi or a place of your choice. During this time you will focus on your needs and desires for artistic growth, examining all aspects of your creative process. The mentor relationship continues throughout the year via individual in-person, phone, email or video chat sessions every one to two weeks, providing the creative and business support you need to achieve your personal and professional goals. Assignments and critiques of work in progress will be provided. This mentorship is certain to provide forward momentum for your photographic path.

One-On-One Private Photo Workshops
Invest in your artistic growth and move your career forward with a five-day intensive one-on-one private workshop.

You and Doug will custom design your workshop together around your needs and desires for growth based on a holistic approach, examining all aspects of your creative process. It can be held at Doug's office/studio in Saint Paul, MN or at the Trade River Retreat Center in Northwestern Wi, or a combination of the two locations. Full amenities, including gourmet healthy meals, private lodging, and all transportation during the workshop, are provided. The workshop can also be held at a location of your choice (such as the Badlands of South Dakota or your own studio), with airfare and lodging provided by you. Also includes follow-up meeting (in person, phone or video chat) scheduled one month later. This intensive, custom tailored workshop is certain to provide forward momentum for your photographic path.

Badlands opening at Umber Studios

2010-04-24T12:16:00.002-05:00

Please join us tonight (Saturday April 24) from 8 to 10 pm at Umber Studios in Minneapolis to celebrate the work of last year's Vision Quest Dramatic Portrait: People and Nudes in the Badlands workshop students. Congratulations to all the participants- the show looks great!

There are still spaces available in this years workshop. Follow the link for more information or go to the Vision Quest Photo Workshops site for info on all our workshops.

Hope to see you at the opening!

Doug's Mentor Franco Salmoiraghi

2010-04-08T13:57:00.004-05:00

On the last page of the March issue of PDN which I mentioned in my previous post there was also a short article about my experience with one of my favorite photographers and brother-from-another-mother Franco Salmoiraghi, of Honolulu, HI. Although an extremely prominent artist, widely collected, exhibited and published, he does not promote himself and still stubbornly resists even having a website. "Why would I want to do that! That way, people might find me. I'm still in hiding." His lack of ego and self-promotion is refreshing. He continues to explore new boundaries in a new project which is a color series of clouds and sky. You can see some of his work from the Big Island of Hawaii below, including an image from the sky series.

Click on image for full view.

Mentoring Article in PDN

2010-04-02T12:36:00.001-05:00

The March issue of PDN (Photo District News) has a feature article about mentoring, with interviews by Holly Hughes with Raoul Benavides, of Flashlight Photo Rental and me. Here is a link to the full article, if you have difficulty reading the copy below.

You should definitely check out Raoul's website for amazingly insightful fine-art portraits for commercial publications. He is one of the best portrait photographers I know and has a style that is innovative, honest and uniquely his. His pro-lighting company, Flashlight, provides drop-off and pick-up service in the Twin Cities.

Click on image to enlarge for easier reading.

TRAVEL TIPS

2010-03-10T21:39:00.000-06:00

Traveling is a balancing act between having what you need, what you think you might need and lightweight, portability, access and ease of use. The older and wiser I get the less I need and the less I want to carry.

Flying:

-When flying, bring your camera bag and laptop as a carry on. Never check them as luggage.

-If traveling with film always bring it in your carry on bag. Do not put it in your checked luggage, as that is subjected to much higher doses of x-rays.

Choosing a camera bag:

-Backpack style camera bag is easier to carry

-Over shoulder bag is easier to work out of on the street

-Bag with wheels is easier to bring thru airports but heavier and harder to use on rough terrain

-Good luck finding one bag that has it all! I have different bags for different types of trips.

Camera bags:

- An old camera bag or case is less tempting for thieves

-Keep a notebook, pen and Sharpie in your camera bag.

-If you have them, put a couple small promo pieces or postcards with your photos. Remember to include a photo credit and email address on the piece

-Always keep an extra camera battery and extra memory card in your camera bag

-Put some business cards with your address and e-mail in your camera bag to give to subjects to contact you to receive prints.

-Hide a business card or small card with your name, e-mail and phone number well hidden under the bottom padding of your camera bag. If stolen and recovered you can quickly prove it is yours.

-Keep a small ‘hot list’ of frequently used or emergency phone numbers or contact info in your camera bag. You may not have your cell phone and most of us don’t remember frequently called phone numbers any more.

-A jeweler’s screwdriver may be a helpful accessory. So is a leatherman tool, but travel with it in your checked luggage.

-It may be helpful to bring a small portfolio or Blub/Apple type book of your images to keep in your camera bag to show subjects the style of photography that you do.

-Bring a plastic bag to protect camera bag contents in a rainstorm.

Equipment:

-I bring Red and Yellow filters for B&W film. For color or digital I bring a polarizing filter.

-I normally don’t put a filter on my lens unless necessary, but use UV filters when traveling to protect the lens.

-If you have multiple lenses, mark the rear body cap with a special Sharpie that shows the focal length of the lens to make it easy to quickly distinguish which lens is which.

-Leave big, heavy or long lenses at home unless you are on a bird watching expedition or wildlife safari. They will get in your way in making intimate portraits and will make you tired and sore from carrying around.

Film:

-Again, do not put new or shot film in your checked luggage when going thru airports!

-Bring small zip lock plastic bags to put shot film in, to protect from moisture and dirt.

-You can Fed Ex shot film home as they do not x-ray Fed Ex packages. If you have a lot of film it is best to separate every other roll into two packages and send on two separate days.

Digital:

-Bring a small surge protector for your laptop. Always plug in the surge protector into the wall outlet first, then plug in your computer’s power cord, then plug the cord into your computer. I will explain why this is important and what could go wrong if you don’t on our trip!

-You can also download images to a portable hard drive/viewer like the Epson 7000 if you don’t want to bring a laptop computer. You can also download to an iPod or iPhone if it set up properly.

-Keep shot memory cards in a separate place from computer, but not in your camera bag, as a back up.

-Don’t forget power cords and battery chargers

Luggage, etc:

-Write down all your camera gear serial numbers and keep in a separate place from camera bag. Also keep a copy on an iDisk or server that is internet accessible.

-Write down all your credit card numbers (you can devise your own code to scramble the numbers) and phone numbers of credit card companies and put in a separate place in case they are lost or stolen.

-Remove all unnecessary credit cards from your wallet before travel.

-Make a digital scan of your passport and e-mail to yourself so you have access to it. Keep a copy on your hard drive.

-Make a photocopy or digital print from the scan of your passport and keep one in your camera bag and one in your luggage.

“No matter where you go, there you are!”

-Jon Kabat Zin

“There is only one journey, going inside yourself.”

-Rainier Maria Rilke

Preparing For A Workshop

2010-02-09T12:20:00.001-06:00

PREPARING FOR A WORKSHOP

BASIC:

-Make sure to get out and use your camera before the workshop.

-Download and edit the images on your computer using your image editing software of choice.

-If shooting film, run a roll through your camera and have it processed.

-Try not to test new camera equipment or use new software at the workshop.

-Re-read your camera manual and bring it with you to the workshop.

-Look at some of your favorite photographers work. Why do you like it?

-Lay out some of your own favorite photographs. Study them. What are the similarities?

-Pack your camera bag. What can you do without? What can you leave behind?

-Plan on learning from your fellow students. Being ‘in community’ with other artists is a big benefit of the workshop experience.

-Be well rested going into the workshop.

-Give yourself totally over to the experience while there. You will get out of it what you put into it.

-Remember that everyone else in the class is just as apprehensive/nervous/scared/excited as you are!

ADVANCED:

-Think about why you need or want a photo workshop at this point on your path.

-Write down a list what you would like to get out of the workshop.

-Write about your apprehensions.

-Look over your past work (prints, contact sheets or digital files). Look for themes, patterns, strengths and weaknesses. What is working? What isn’t? What needs improvement?

THE INSTRUCTOR:

-Look at the work and website of the teacher of your workshop. What can you learn from them? What do you like in their work? What would you do differently and why? What do they have to teach you?

-Don’t let the instructor force you to thinking/shooting like they do. You also do not need to have similar subjects or themes as theirs. Do try and learn about how their approach to their chosen subject matter can better inform you of new ways to approach your own subject matter of choice.

-It’s ok, sometimes even very helpful, to try and copy or emulate their style as a method of learning but ultimately you must find your own path.

-What works for them may not work for you but use their approach and methods as a guidepost or catalyst for finding your own methods and vision.

Sarah Sampedro Rust: 'Passing the Torch'

2010-01-29T10:54:00.001-06:00

Sarah Sampedro Rust has a fantastic new blog at artandmotherhood.com
She is posting one photo every day for a year, drawing inspiration from her role as a mother and wife. The images are both poignant and powerful. This is a must see!

I am proud to have been chosen by Sarah as her mentor in the project 'Passing The Torch', an exhibit at Homewood Studios in North Minneapolis. Sarah has several beautiful new pieces in this exhibit, shown alongside one of mine. Located on Plymouth Avenue in North Minneapolis, Homewood Studios is a beautiful gallery and collaborative artists workspace, founded and owned by George Roberts. George is a wonderful artist working with letterpress and other printing methods.

'Passing the Torch' is only up at Homewood Studios until February 3rd so go see it this weekend!

En Foco Blog Posted with Winning Images

2009-12-07T10:30:00.002-06:00

En Foco/Nueva Luz Photography Journal has posted my blog about judging the MN State Fair Fine Arts show on their blog and they have included images of many of the winning entries. I could not post them on my blog at the time of writing because the winners had not yet been announced.

En Foco is a non-profit dedicated to cultural diversity in photography based in New York City. Their web site is www.enfoco.org and their magazine is Nueva Luz Photography Journal (which published a feature spread of images from my Japan book in Volume 10.1 in 2004)

POST WORKSHOP RE-ENTRY

2009-11-04T20:46:00.007-06:00

Re-entry to 'ordinary life' can be difficult after a deeply personal experience such as a photo workshop based on creativity, community and artistic/emotional vulnerability rather than technical knowledge. If your workshop also included travel outside of your own culture it can be even harder. You have changed but the world around you back home has not. You want to share your new growth but others may want you to stay the same. Here are some ways to continue to live your art:

-Find or start a support network of like-minded photographers
-Avoid photo groups more interested in cameras and equipment than self expression

-Be very careful of who you take criticism from! Consider the source...
-Explore your own motives for why and who you want to share your work with

-Nurture artist and artist-friendly friendships, especially from other disciplines

-Find a mentor. Meet with him or her at regularly scheduled intervals.

-Take yourself on an ‘artist’s date’ (see Julia Cameron/The Artist's Way)

-Go to galleries and museums. Look at paintings and other art forms

-Go to the public library and look at art and photo books

-Read a book from the recommended book list

-Re-read "Art and Fear" by Bayles and Orland

-Google the work of photographers on the reading list

-Use 'Shots' magazine upcoming submission themes as your next assignment and deadline

-Plan photo outings with specific, predetermined themes

-Give yourself specific assignments

-Mine your previous work for themes, then turn those themes into projects

-Have a timetable and deadline for those assignments or projects

-Set up an exhibit of your work. Deadlines can be amazing creativity energizers!

-Set up a group exhibit, with a theme, for your artists group

-Set up an exhibit with members of your workshop

-Join an existing Flicker or photo-sharing group

-Start a Flicker or photo-sharing group with members of your workshop

-Publish a Blurb or Apple book of your workshop photos and experience
-Start an ideas or creativity journal. Write about your process, progress and struggles

-Re-visit and re-work workshop assignments

-Re-visit the writing exercises from class

-Have something to look forward to: visit the Vision Quest website and sign up for a future workshop!

"Photographing the Nude" video

2009-10-24T23:46:00.003-05:00

Here is a link to the high-def video "Photographing The Nude With Doug Beasley" by Minneapolis photographer/videographer Chris Polydoroff. The password is 'doug'.

It was filmed at Doug's Trade River Retreat Center in Northwestern Wisconsin. The model is Sara Licht. Chris did the filming, sound and editing.

Vision Quest Photo Workshops is now accepting registrations for the "The Dramatic Portrait: People and Nudes in the Badlands" May 27-31, 2010, held just outside of Badlands National Park in Interior, South Dakota. This workshop usually fills fast so let us know if you'd like to reserve a spot.

Jurying the MN State Fair Fine Arts Exhibit

2009-08-24T14:38:00.003-05:00

Yesterday (8/10/09) I judged the photography competition for the 2009 Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibit. As the sole judge in the photo category this was an overwhelming task with over 1,100 entries that needed to be narrowed down to just 107. That’s less than nine percent of the entries making the cut! Although honored to have been chosen to be the judge this year, it is made even more difficult because I was suffering jet lag after returning from Italy late the night before. Walking through the room with the photos laid out on the floor along the walls told me there was going to be a lot of very enticing images to have to choose from but also that many will be easy to eliminate.

With the help of several volunteer assistants, my first undertaking is to remove as quickly as possible all entries that are visually or technically poorly executed. This is to avoid further visual overload and to save energy for the hard choices I know lay ahead. Poorly executed unfortunately often means very bad digital printing. With good Epson photo printers starting under $200 it is probably more due to lack of experience and judgment discerning print quality than a technical issue. I also try and look closely at the small prints that seem well executed so they don’t get lost among the giant oversized works that scream out at you. Small intimate works can easily get overlooked and I really try and see the intent and value in each piece. Almost half the photos have now been sent away!

Usually I also take into account presentation but have been asked to overlook matting and framing choices, since not everyone can afford that and to base my choices purely on the photograph itself. This is the only guideline I have been given by the State Fair. I try, but much of the wildly ‘creative’ framing and colorful mats, carefully chosen to match the colors in the photo and often double or triple matted really get in way of the photograph. I wish people realized how distracting this is and how much it detracts from, rather than enhances, their image. If only they could visit a few museums or galleries that are not in malls and that don’t start with “Thomas” or end with “Kinkade” or that don’t feature duck art, I think it might really help. Access to real galleries is where people who live in the metro area have a distinct advantage over the rural population. A mediocre photograph is not made any better by a colorful mat and ornate frame. It is in fact, much worse, sometimes even offensive.

My next task was to eliminate typical or trite responses to cliched subjects. Way too many cute kittens, cute kids and old barns. I have nothing against kids, kittens or nostalgia but cute gets old quickly when looking at over 1,100 framed images and nostalgia doesn’t replace vision, craft, soulfulness or insightfulness. Cute or nostalgic simply aren’t enough to carry a photo under this level of competition. Use that as a starting point in going deeper and maybe we are getting somewhere. And if you are going to choose subjects, including flowers, that many others are going to submit nearly identical versions of, please try and find a more unique or personal way of interpreting your subject. I suggest to my very helpful assistants that they should consider having a whole separate exhibit, hopefully in a building far away, for the hopelessly cute including any photo where your first reaction is “awwww”. It would probably be a very popular State Fair destination but you won’t find me there unless there is something very tasty on a stick on the other side and no other way to get there.

Another category with a lot of entries is travel. These span the globe from nice vacation snapshots to some very insightful beautiful photographs. I feel bad eliminating anyone’s favorite travel shot or the amazing sunrise or sunset because I love that they stopped and noticed. I know their friends or relatives told them it was a great shot and I’m sure the experience of being there was great but it is usually the place or moment that is significant, not their photographic record of it. The choices of what to eliminate so far have been fairly easy and instinctual and I am confident in my choices. From previous experience, I know that now the real work begins…

My criteria for selection includes concept, execution, creativity and exemplary implementations of a wide range of styles or genres. The most important criteria for me is emotional impact: what makes the viewer think, or even better, feel. That quality of ‘emotional impact’ is, of course, completely subjective and up to me to interpret. I try to be as objective as possible while also fully realizing that true objectivity is impossible. I recognize many of the photographers by style, content or because they have signed their name on the front. Many of these people are my friends, my colleagues, my students. How can I be objective about someone’s photo when I know their strengths and weakness, their vulnerabilities, their struggles, their growth and compare that to the photo of somebody I don’t know? I try to be objective but I simply don’t think it’s possible, at least for me. It was much easier when I judged shows in Alaska and Hawaii where I didn’t know hardly any of the photographers. I think maybe the State Fair should bring in judges from outside Minnesota to avoid this dilemma.

Jurying is mostly selection by elimination. I need to take into account balancing how many images in a given genre (i.e. nature, wildlife, documentary or digital composite) are accepted so the exhibit shows a balance and range of different methods of working with the medium and ways of seeing. In the end it is more about trusting my instincts, but there still is a lot of second-guessing myself. In the final selection there are a few that didn’t make it that now, in retrospect, I think should have. If your photo was rejected please know that it was definitely one of these. There are also a couple I think now, in retrospect, shouldn’t have made it in and I agonize over these decisions. Another day or another time there might be different choices but that is always the case. Today I stand by these choices. I also feel for all those that chose to honor moments in their lives by making a photograph. Who am I to now diminish that moment by saying it’s not good enough to stand with these other moments submitted by those more accomplished, more experienced or more sophisticated photographers or alongside the hundreds of professional and commercial photographers who also chose to enter the fair?

Now we are down to at least 250 or 300 photographs, all strong and all very deserving of a place in the show. And I have to still eliminate two thirds of these! If you have made it this far you should know that your work is good but there simply isn’t room to include all of these in the show. To narrow it down to 107 it is no longer about what is better than something else but what appeals to me at this time, this day, this point in my life, my career. But are these really the ‘best’? No, there is no such thing in art. These are my favorites and I leave it at that. It also becomes about having a well-rounded show with many styles and genres represented.

Picking the first through fourth place and merit awards is by far the hardest part of the day for me. With jet-lag swirling through my body and the sensation of my blood turning to cement I am temporarily unable to continue. I ask that all possible candidates for awards be lined up against the back wall but I simply can’t choose. I want to just give them all an equal designation of ‘my favorites’ and walk away, but winners must be chosen. The task is made harder and more complicated by the fact that I know at least half of the award contenders personally and a couple of them are very close friends. I consider eliminating any awards to friends. I consider only giving friends ‘honorable mention’ status. But either of these choices would be doing their work and them a disservice. I walk away again to try to clear my head and gather energy. When I return I talk with the exhibit director and with several of my helpers about my dilemma in making awards to friends. They both help me realize that I just have to give the awards to what I feel is the strongest and most powerful work, no matter whose it is.

Even though overall I love my choices, I am haunted by a couple images that made the final cut that I let outside factors influence me (who they are, what their previous work is like, their standing in the photo community) and a couple that didn’t make it in that I think I made a mistake on. When I go back the next day I tell the Fine Art committee I think have made a mistake at the last minute by impulsively, under pressure, cutting the photo of a man with a red white and blue straw hat the says “Made In China” on it. Is this photo ‘better’ than many of the other much more ‘fine art’ photos rejected? No, but it has made an impact on me and it is one I want others to see, probably more for the wry political commentary than anything artful, yet it is well done technically and aesthetically. They let me add it back in! Now we have 108, what some say is a auspicious number; the same as the number of prayer beads on a Tibetan Buddhist mala. Perfect.

If your photo didn’t get into the State Fair Fine Arts Exhibit it is important to remember that less than one out of eleven photos were accepted, due to space limitations. It was the highest number of entries ever. Out of the eleven hundred images, many by well known artists and accomplished professionals, I thought there were about three hundred strong enough to be in the show and still only one third made it in. Your job is to make it to that top three hundred. If you didn’t make it that far (and I wish there was a way for people to know) you probably need to work on developing your vision and craft. If you did make it into that top three hundred, from there it is up to the taste and whims of the judge. There are many factors that influence the judging that have nothing to do with the quality or artistic merit of your work: the judge’s taste, how many similarly themed entries there were, the need of the judge to create a well rounded show reflecting many sensibilities. There were some very good photos that didn’t make the final cut and every time I had to eliminate one of these it hurt. Undoubtedly there were also excellent entries that somehow got overlooked in the chaos of the sheer mass of submitted images (or the apparent blindness, ignorance or poor taste of the judge). I think it is the job of the photographer to submit a photo with a strong enough vision coupled with a high level of execution to be in the top tier but also true to the photographer’s individual vision. Submit images that you feel most passionate about, not ones that you think will get in. From there it is anybody’s guess as to the whims of fate that year…

Video on Badlands exhibit opening

2009-04-10T11:01:00.011-05:00

"Jesse, Badlands, S.D." Douglas Beasley 2008

Here is a link to the video produced and edited by Matt Peiken for his arts program "3 Minute Egg". It was filmed at the Badlands SD 2008 student exhibit opening at Umber Studios in Minneapolis, MN and features interviews with Doug, Elizabeth Barnwell and John Olson. Geoff Stones photos are also featured along with Doug and Elizabeth's.

There are still a couple spaces open for this years Vision Quest Badlands workshop "The Dramatic Portrait; People and Nudes in the Badlands" held in Interior, S.D. May 28 to June 1st.

Article about Badlands student exhibit at Umber Studios

2009-03-20T22:48:00.003-05:00

"Sharon, Badlands, SD" by Douglas Beasley

Here is a link to an article by Susannah Schouweiler for MNartists.org and Minnpost.com about the exhibit for student's from Vision Quest's 2008 Badlands workshop that opens Saturday March 21st at Umber Studios in SE Minneapolis, MN. Hope to see some of you there!

Umber Studios: Evocative photography of the human figure set in stark terrain of Badlands

Vision Quest Student Gallery on the web

2009-03-06T02:47:00.006-06:00

Vision Quest has a new Student Gallery on the web. It was designed by Rod Vesper, an alumni of the 2008 Zen and the Art of Photography in New Mexico for Santa Fe Workshops. Above you will find one of his beautiful images. Check out the new site for many more photos from many of the workshops.

New Year's Day at Trade River Retreat Center

2009-03-05T20:22:00.020-06:00

Road in front of Trade River Retreat Center entrance.

My driveway, lined with snow covered pine trees.

Main cottage, looking towards the river.

Looking towards cottage, from log cabin.

Adirondack chairs, overlooking Trade River.

Log cabin, looking towards porch.

Stairs to loft in log cabin.

Meditation cushion in log cabin, looking out towards river.

Here are some photos of my cabins in NW Wisconsin taken over New Years. The new snow was beautiful and the cross country skiing was excellent!

Vision Quest's Trade River Retreat Center is available for custom workshops and small group retreat rental as well as for personal retreats. Please call or e mail for rates and availability.

VQ's Trade River Retreat Center in the summer

2009-03-05T15:53:00.017-06:00

Cedar entry gate with Tibetan Prayer flags and bell from Thailand.

Tori Gate with Earth flag at the end of the long winding driveway.

Main house. Sauna is on the far right and the Trade River is right behind the house.

Front of main house with ferns and Japanese stone lantern.

Front of log cabin, which faces the river.

Red Tori Gate, looking towards river.

Here are some photos of Vision Quest's Trade River Retreat Center in NW Wisconsin, made with my iPhone last summer.

The Trade River Retreat Center is available for custom workshops and group retreat rental as for personal retreats. Please call or email for rates and availability.

Exhibit by 3 Vision Quest students

2009-03-04T16:16:00.012-06:00

The photographs from this exhibit were made by three students, on an incredible personal journey, at my "Renewing Your Creative Vision" workshop at the Trade River Retreat Center in NW Wisconsin. Please come join them to celebrate at the opening or visit their website about the show and the extraordinary photographs they created during the workshop. Congratulations to Lisa, Sarah and Margaret!

This workshop, for only 4 participants, chosen from submission materials, will be repeated this fall from Friday October 9 to Sunday October 11. Deadline for applications is September 7th. There will be a Vision Quest Photo Workshops listing on our web site soon. In the meantime, please call or email for more information.

Weekend Workshop at Mpls Photo Center

2009-03-04T16:07:00.007-06:00

New Vision Quest Photo Workshops listed

2009-02-21T13:04:00.014-06:00

Heather in the Badlands with her Holga camera.

Sara in the Badlands of South Dakota.

New Vision Quest Photo Workshops for 2009 are now listed on our website.

Please join us this year somewhere for a new adventure!