11th Annual Joseph Miller Abstract Photography Exhibit

Welcome to the 11th Annual Joseph Miller Abstract Photography Exhibit. For this exhibit we received 441 entries mostly from camera club members in states across America. I juried 130 images into this exhibit. Over the years for ALL the 11 annual exhibits we have received about 4,000 entries, and I juried in about 1,000.

For the first 9 exhibits (which were before the pandemic) we hung and displayed the juried-in, matted and framed images in my Center For The Photographic Arts. I have space to hang only 120-125 matted and framed images because I have a large collection of signed Freeman Patterson prints which will never come down.

Given the interest of these abstract photography exhibits nationwide and sometimes internationally, it is surprising to me how badly abstracts fare in camera club competitions. Rarely do judges give ribbons to abstracts. I personally consider abstracts to be modern art — some good modern art, and, of course, some not good modern art. I consider abstracts to be the poetry of photography. And, yes, I admit to being biased.

I feel that camera club judges spend much too much time on the technical aspects of an image (rule of thirds, catchlight in the eyes, etc.) and not enough time on the artistic qualities of the image.

Abstracts can be FOUND or CREATED. FOUND abstracts often require careful looking / seeing / which may take time. As a result, impatient photographers rely on post processing computer software programs to later produce an abstract image. No doubt that has been the case in some of the images entered in each of the 11th abstract exhibits. But for EVERY ONE of the 11 exhibits, we have insisted that ALL images entered MUST HAVE ORIGINATED in the camera so that photography is involved in every image.

Given the remarkable sophistication of digital, it is sometimes difficult to tell if an Image started in the camera, so we rely on the honesty of the maker. It is a pretty dishonest person who would lie about something like this. Also, we have placed no time limit when the entries had to be first taken in the camera.

It should be acknowledged that all these 11 abstract exhibits are misnamed. They should be named THE MATT AND AMIE ANNUAL ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT. Matt Schmidt and Amie Tannenbaum along with me have been major partners since the very beginnings. All I did was choose the images I liked best. How difficult is that? Matt and Amie did the rest.

I am almost 89 years old and when I am gone I hope Matt and Amie will continue these annual abstract exhibits which the three of us started 11 years ago. Both are excellent abstract photographers and are extremely capable camera club judges, indeed, among the very best in the area. Future annual abstract photography exhibits will be well served.