Millerprojects:Notes

Midwest Photographers Project

Just posted today, a selection of my Statesmen project that is now part of the Midwest Photographers Project at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College, Chicago.

Developers I Have Known and Loved

In 1978-79, while a student at Apeiron Workshops in Millerton, New York, someone gave me a film developer to use that was weird and amazing -- Harvey's Panthermic 777 (or so I recall the name). It came in a glass gallon jug, and the more you used it, the sludgey-er it got, and the better the film came out. (I wish I had an image to post from back then, but I don't.) The tonal scale was beautiful, though, and the grain was fine. I shot all 35mm then (as now), so getting that kind of tonality on the negative was a big deal!

In doing some research today for my photography 2 class (looking up info on Acufine, another of my favorite developers), I ran across this info on 777. Quite the nostalgic moment. Thanks, Harvey, wherever you are!

What Remains is Future

Can't let this go without a mention, even thought it's not a photo event. In the press today, the farewells to CBGB. I didn't live in the neighborhood, but I did live in the music that came from there, making forays from Apeiron's mountaintop refuge down to the city and other locales to hear Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Ramones, et al, and Richard Hell once at the club itself. In the NYTimes today, Smith offers words that give hope mixed with challenge: "You just got a place, just some crappy place, that nobody wants, and you got one guy who believes in you, and you just do your thing. And anybody can do that, anywhere in the world, any time."

After her set was over and the club had partly cleared out, Ms. Smith returned to the stage for a silent postcript. As fans held up outstretched hands, Ms. Smith reached into a bag and handed out little black pins. They read, "What remains is future."

Lee Friedlander, Fashion Photographer

In the NYTimes magazine today, a portfolio of Friedlander's foray into the fashion world, presented with his preferred multi-image layout. My favorite part of the brief text is this: "Friedlander insists that he is happiest on assignment. “I’m just a photographer,” he says, “a working photographer.”

Portfolio Workshop

I'm teaching a half day workshop in Austin, Texas on Oct. 21 for the Texas Photographic Society. The description is below.

06. Sybil Miller
(Austin, TX)
Getting the Work Out: Assembling an Effective Review Portfolio
Sat, Oct 21: 9a-12n

With the increase in portfolio review opportunities, such as Review Santa Fe, Rhubarb-Rhubarb, Fotofest and others, photographers have the chance to present their work and ideas to a large number of significant reviewers in a short time-frame. To make the most of a Review experience, it is important to carefully consider your presentation and prepare your materials well in advance. To begin, you need a well edited body of work (or two), so we will spend part of the workshop assessing participants’ current portfolios. Once a strong set of images is assembled, it is time to prepare supporting materials for a leave-behind packet – CDs, books, cards, statements, etc. A fully functional well-designed website is a must as well.

Participants should bring their current portfolios (no slides or negatives) and supporting materials for feedback. We will look at examples of effective materials for leave-behind packets, discuss how-to choose your reviewers, suggestions for Review follow-up, and some do’s and don’ts of Review etiquette.

Sybil Miller is a visual artist based in Austin and Chicago, and professor of photocommunications at St. Edward’s University. Her recently completed project, Statesmen: Pictures from the Fifty State Capitols, will be exhibited at Smith College this fall. A participant in this year’s Review Santa Fe, she will share her experiences and insights with workshop attendees.