The 5th Annual Holga Out of the Box International Photography Competition is now under way with juror, the Holga Queen herself, Michelle Bates. Show us your best Holga image. “Out of the box” is about artistic creativity to produce an image starting with a Holga camera. Not that you have to photograph your Holga – out of the box – with out modifications.” . It is open to amateur and professional photographers around the globe that use a Holga camera or an element of it.
Holga Out of the Box opens October 1st during ArtWalk and continues through November 13, 2015 here at TCC PHOTO |GALLERY located at 207 N. Center St., Longview, TX 75601 and on the web at http://www.tccphotogallery.com
Bates said this about the Holga: I have looked at photos by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of photographers using Holgas, Dianas, and other low-tech cameras over the past 24 years. In jurying exhibitions, I like to see work that transcends the “Holganess;” and integrates the photographer’s own artistic vision into the image. While I love to see all the work, images that are different, new, fresh and different in a genre that has been around long enough to mature, are what are exciting to me. I hope to curate a well-rounded and beautiful show!
Cash prizes and exhibition opportunities. Holga Inspire is a sponsor for this competition, they not only are providing cameras for the top winners, but show case the winning images on the Holga Inspire website. http://www.holgainspire.com
Michelle Bates
Michelle Bates first discovered Holgas in 1991 at the Maine Photographic Workshops (now Maine Media Workshops). With a fledgeling interest in photography, she was hooked by the weird images the Holga makes, and started off a 20+ year career of making Holga images and teaching others about the Holga’s magic. Her first exhibition outside of Maine was at the International Center of Photography, which hosted a Holga show in its bookstore gallery. Since then, Bates has shown her images in shows around the world and has won several awards.
Bates began presenting her work to classes at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, and teaching at Seattle’s Photo Center Northwest. She has since given talks and workshops at photo centers, universities, conferences and bookstores around the US, and in Dublin.
In 2006, Bates published the first edition of “Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity” (Focal Press), the first comprehensive history and guide to the toy camera genre, including images by 33 selected photographers. The second edition, published in 2010, was updated and expanded to include 50 photographers using Holgas and other low-tech tools.
About the Holga camera
In 1982 T.M. Lee created the Holga. His vision was to inspire millions of Chinese to create lasting memories with this simple and affordable camera, at a time when photography was an expensive luxury in China that few could indulge in. Today, more than three decades later, the Holga has inspired millions throughout the world with the unique imagery it creates in the hands of the inspired artist. The Holga has become a classic. In its many manifestations it bridges the span between traditional photography and modern visual art.
The Holga has it’s huge cult following because of it’s simple design. The simple design makes it considered a toy camera. People love the plastic lens and it’s effect, the vignetted edges, and the strange light leaks. Many feel a successful Holga image is a gift.
About TCC PHOTO | GALLERY
We are the only fine art photography gallery in North East Texas, specifically in
Longview, TX. TCC was first a commercial studio, then in 2006 we opened the gallery with the inaugural exhibit of Muhammad Ali, photographs by Sonia Katchian. We were the first US gallery to host the Holga Inspire traveling exhibit in 2009. We have also shown, Dan Burkholder, Dennis Fagan, O. Rufus Lovett, Scott C. Campbell, Blue Earth Alliance photographers, Polly Chandler, Mary Ann Lynch, Laura Pickett Calfee, Pat Brown, Danea Males, TCC, Orville Robertson, John Wrather, Tami Bone, Texas Photographic Society, Robert Langham, Jenny Ellerbe, Susan Burnstine, and Kenny Braun.
Deadline
Deadline for Holga Out of the Box call for entry is July 10, 2015, Midnight CST !
Entry Fees
The entry fee of $35 for up to 5 images. Photographers may enter up to 10 images only
at $5 each additional.
Click here to pay for entry fees https://tccphoto.com/blog/wp-login.php
Prizes
Holga Out of the Box exhibit will consist of 30 prints in the physical gallery with an
additional 30 images included in the online gallery, totaling 60 images selected.
Best of Show – $500 plus a Holga TLR
2nd Place -” $250 plus a Holga N
3rd Place -” $150 plus a Holga N
When emailing digital files
1. Files should be 1080 pixels in the longest dimension saved in the JPEG format on high quality setting (not maximum). Images should be sampled at 72ppi and saved in the sRGB color space. Email entries to [email protected]
2. Label each file with consecutive numbers followed by your Last name, and first name initial .ie CampbellT_01 – no spaces and only alpha-numeric characters.
3. Be sure and copyright your images in the “file info” of Photoshop or meta data.
Meta Data
In the meta data – found in PhotoShop under “File”, scroll down to “file info” fill in the fields. You can do this in the bridge on multiple files by selecting the files, hold down the control key and select “file info” then enter the multiple fields.
Place the title in the “title” field, Copyright Notice, your name, City and State. In the Author field add your name Select “Copyrighted” in the Copyright Notice pull down tab and copyright notice © Your Name ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you have trouble with this let me know. Click here to see screenshot
https://tccphoto.com/metadatascreenshot.jpg or I will be happy to do it for you. Email jpgs to [email protected]
Sales
All accepted photographs are for sale. The commission charged will be 50% of the sales price. Print your name, address, telephone numbers (work and home), and sales amount on the back of each print accepted.
Liability
TCC will exercise all due care in handling prints, but will not be responsible for loss or damage or replacement.
Reproduction
TCC retains the right to display, project and reproduce work accepted for this exhibition for publicity and promotional purposes only. Individual photographers retain Copyrights to their individual works.
Eligibility
The exhibition is open to all internationally Holga photographers. The photograph needs to exposed with a Holga camera or an element of it.
If Your Work is Accepted
Send one exhibition print for each accepted photograph.
2. Prints must be mounted and over-matted using white matte board with at least a 2″ border around print. Ideally, the photographs should be framed and ready to hang – no sawtooth hangers please. If you are shipping your framed prints, please use plexiglass instead of glass. To save on shipping costs it is ok to send mounted and matted as described above in standard sizes ie: mounted to 16×20, 18×24, 20×24. Check with me on the size of your finished print if you are sending it only mounted and matted to make sure I have glass to cover it.
3. Include return postage for prints to be shipped back to you after the exhibition. Most include a check for $18 (more for international entries) which would include shipping and $300 insurance. Prints WITHOUT postage will not be returned. Prints will be returned in the container in which they were received. Do NOT use peanuts when shipping.
Our Address
TCC PHOTO | GALLERY
207 N. Center St.
Longview, TX 75601
903.236.4686
Important Dates:
Call for entry begins: April 23, 2015
Deadline: July10, 2015
Announce Winners: August 1, 2015
Exhibit opens: October 1, 2015 with ArtWalk
Exhibit closes: November 13, 2014
Contact Information (copy and paste information below in email with your entries to [email protected] or send as an attachment).
Name _________________________________________________________
address ________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________________________________
state/Zip ________________________________________________________
Home phone ____________________________________________________
Work phone ____________________________________________________
email address ___________________________________________________
Please tell us the following
Title – As you want it to appear in the exhibit and online.
Process – tell us your process whether it is Silver gelatin, Platinum, Type C print,
Lightjet, Digital pigment print
Retail Sale Price of your image
Entry Fees (you may pay safely and securely with credit card or debit here:
https://tccphoto.com/gallery/holgacfe.html
or mail check to TCC PHOTO | GALLERY – address above.)
$35 for up to 5 images
Additional at $5 per image up to 10
Total Enclosed:” $
Payment method (please do not send in email – call with information)
Visa _____ Mastercard _____ Discover________
Number: ______________________________________________
Expiration Date:___________ 3 digit code _____
Titles
1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________
6. ______________________________________________________________
7. ______________________________________________________________
8. ______________________________________________________________
9. ______________________________________________________________
10. _____________________________________________________________
Email entries to [email protected]