After years of being a sig member. one you all hate to love ;)

I have finally got together with a group of artists and am going to be showing a selection of my work in New York next week.

Not only that but also I have had a book published to co-inside with the show.

I would like to just say that over the years I have gained a lot of information mainly from the forums of this site, and am glad to have been a member for such a long time. I know we had a rocky start but doesn't everyone.

If any of you are from New York then please feel free to contact me for more info and an invite to opening night. Also if you would like a little more info please message me in Private and I will send you the site details.

very excited and just wanted to share this info with you all. maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel for us all.

Cheers Nicky Taylor

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From del/Administrator (0) on April 7, 2012 9:06:40 AM CDT Congratulations, Nicky. Don't tease us with this good news, post a link so we can enjoy it with you. Del Reply

From lordofthecamera/Nick (87) on April 7, 2012 9:35:03 AM CDT Ok OK OK. here is a link its the advertising page of my book 'The Return To Beauty' and here is a little about the upcoming show and some of the work I will be showing Nicky Taylor's Photography work any feed back would be great. Please bear in mind this is my first attempt at all of this so. If something is screaming out as being wrong please speak up so i might be able to talk to the web guy and change it. the show will be at the Affordable Art Show New York 18th-22. If any of you are about pop by would be good to put a few faces to names finally. Reply

From sheenawilkie/Administrator (0) on April 7, 2012 10:05:46 AM CDT Congrats Nick. Perhaps you can pay forward the free plug by writing some critiques for the community here as per our forum guidelines. Reply

From wdeon/Wayne (8,931) on April 9, 2012 2:56:09 AM CDT Congrats on the exhibition. Your links don't send us where they should. The first one puts us back here to this page and the second is broken. Reply

From captaindon/Don (11,677) on April 7, 2012 10:05:35 AM CDT After years of being a sig member you only have 2 images posted and have written 2 critiques. I fail to see how this site has been of much value. Reply

From sheenawilkie/Administrator (0) on April 7, 2012 10:06:38 AM CDT Nick has had several accounts here - he has been more prolific in the forums than critiques ;-) Reply

From lordofthecamera/Nick (87) on April 7, 2012 10:37:29 AM CDT The forums have a wealth of info to share. Thanks sheena ;) Reply

From ollie0626/Jonathan (3,494) on April 7, 2012 10:40:52 AM CDT Nick, I am going to give you some feedback on your site and I hope you won't be offended. On your site, you are referred to in the third person. "New star, Nicky Taylor, is fast establishing a reputation as a leading landscape photographer." Did someone say this about you? If so, I really think you should put the persons name to the text. To me, it gives the content some credibility - ie that someone said that about you, and even better, someone who is considered respected in the genre of photography that you are focusing. However, if you wrote that your self, but put it in third person, I have to be honest, I find it really off putting. It just comes across as really egotistical. Let your work speak for itself - the commentary (again if it was you that wrote it), just clouds the work in my opinion. Perhaps this is just my issue, but I really find that photographers who come across as more humble about their work is more appealing. If someone else said this about you - great! Put it in quotes and cite the photographer. When someone says that they are becoming established as a leading photographer - I kind want to know who said that. If it was you - well...it is just off putting in my opinion. And for me personally, I am thinking about that as I look at your work. Thus, from a business perspective, my advice would be to either cite the commentary, or remove it. what do others think? Am I just taking it the wrong way? There is a pretty famous nature photographer out there who is also very famous in the photography social media/podcast circles, but the way he talks about himself completely ruins his images for me. I am not saying it is wrong to feel and project confidence about one's work, but I guess there is a way to do it that also doesn't come across as having a big ego. I just find that more appealing and it does effect my reaction to the photos. So as an aside, how important is the perception of the photographer to their work? This has taken the post off topic, so I will understand if it is deleted. Reply

From sheenawilkie/Administrator (0) on April 7, 2012 10:46:43 AM CDT I think it depends on how it is written. On an about page, or bio page I often think it odd to read it in the first person. I, I, I. When I am asked for a bio for a speaking engagement or workshop my bio is always written in the third person. I find it more professional that way. I do think though, that when you veer into marketing language, which is what Nick's site does, then, first or third person, it just comes across as what it is, over the top promo bunk. If your bio sticks to factual information, I think it's fine in the third person. But that's just me :-) I just went back and checked, I have both ways on my sites. I think it depends on the message and the audience. But I think you're right, people should only use quotes from other people when the statement is very complimentary, otherwise you come across full of yourself. Cheers. Reply

From ollie0626/Jonathan (3,494) on April 7, 2012 10:48:40 AM CDT Oh I agree - it is not that it is in third person - I do that for bios all the time. But as you said, third person for promotion purposes is what turns me off - unless though someone else said that about you. I have quotes that people said about me right on my CV. But if it is promo and the photographer made it up, and it is in third person - I find it a real turn off. Reply

From sheenawilkie/Administrator (0) on April 7, 2012 10:52:13 AM CDT OOps I just went back and added to my post addressing exactly that. On my www.photogurus.ca site I use both first and third person. Reply

From loiswakeman/Lois (16,444) on April 9, 2012 6:11:47 AM CDT I'm not sure about that. I know in high-end galleries and exhibition catalogues etc. the bio is generally third person - but on the web, you want to try and establish a personal connection with your audience that isn't possible as in a private view for example. Third person just puts a layer of unnecessary formality and distance between the site owner and the site visitors in these days of informal communication, at least for me. And I have to say, it often comes across as a wee bit pretentious today - even in a swanky gallery. Reply

From marshall/Marshall (11,954) on April 7, 2012 10:50:51 AM CDT Actually, Jonathan, that was my first reaction as well. I get that the gallery/rep site (also linked) may lean to the hyperbolic (though that struck me as overblown as well here). And I get that Nicky's site, which must (and should) be somewhat oriented to maximizing the value perception of the prints. But I also found the third-person hyperbolic to be a little off-putting. I also found the repeated third person "the Artist" to feel stilted, especially within the pages of the book itself. On pages writing about the prints, it can be very engaging for it to be first person, more humble, and then have the About The Photographer page push his up-and-coming-ness and the growing appreciation for the work. If visitors are interested enough, they'll see it, and if a visitor engages with the photos, they will be interested enough. Nicky may be getting advice about this presentation from his representation, but hopefully it's useful to know that some people respond this way. Of course, they care more about the regular public than weenies on photo forums, but still... Reply

From lordofthecamera/Nick (87) on April 7, 2012 11:02:05 AM CDT Thanks Ollie for taking the time to look and comment. Im sure Sheena will back me up on this one. I have handed myself over to a representative and in turn all the text is written by him. A famous photographer ? ... No. However they are regular contributes to the Times and the Independent Newspapers. So I believe they are credible. I like to concentrate more on the photography. As alone my PR sucks and since joining forces it almost seems like im breaking down wall I was previously stuck behind. I really do appreciate your honest and detailed review. However I am partly in there hands on the text side of things. 6 month or a year down the line that might change but for now its a starting point for me. Reply

From ollie0626/Jonathan (3,494) on April 7, 2012 11:04:20 AM CDT ok, but the job of the representative is to advertise you - so again, the text lacks credibility. And I am not a professional photographer - but is it normal to lose control over the text of one's website like that? ie - someone else dictates the content? If so, I would really feel uncomfortable with that sort of business relationship. Again, this is way out of my league. Reply

From lordofthecamera/Nick (87) on April 7, 2012 11:10:45 AM CDT Well i do have certain control as I control the sites. What i meant to say is that i dont try and attempt the written text, as the words never look on paper/on-screen how they seem to appear in my mind. So its almost collaboration from my ideas and then he transforms it to the true English written text ;) Reply

From marshall/Marshall (11,954) on April 7, 2012 11:39:56 AM CDT I suspected that this was largely coming from the rep, who of course wants to pump up your profile. That's great, and it's their job, so you have to trust them with it. It's also useful for you and them to know what the reaction is as you continue to adjust and refine your public persona and presentation. Good luck in the pursuit. It does seem like you're starting to make inroads where you'd like to be, and some of the work you're showing here is a great step up from some of the early work you showed on SIG in an earlier account. Reply

From lordofthecamera/Nick (87) on April 13, 2012 12:16:04 AM CDT Thanks Marshall, Yes I too think my work has come a long way since starting out. but I guess the proof will be in the pudding of the next event. Wish me luck :) Reply

From loiswakeman/Lois (16,444) on April 9, 2012 6:18:51 AM CDT I agree entirely. Being quietly self-confident is one thing - being a showman is another and somewhat offputting, as you say. Reply

From tvernuccio/Sheila (37,104) on April 7, 2012 12:28:48 PM CDT How exciting for you! Congratulations! :) Reply

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