The online world and the physical one often seem as two parallel lines never to meet. The most glaring example of that are the social networks. Many of us have a different set of “friends” online than the ones we cultivate in real life. Actually, to refine this point, the friends we meet in person are included in our social life, but not the other way around; our online friends remain in the digital realm.
Rendez-Vous, Strasbourg France
It’s almost as if there is a competition of sorts between the two worlds – which will reign supreme? The focus has definitely shifted in the last two decades toward the online world. That’s where stuff happens, that’s where you need to be if you are out to make a dent.
Web design patterns illustrate this point quite nicely. In the early days of the www online design drew its inspiration from print. Sites made an effort to look – and feel – like real magazines and newspapers. But then the web gained momentum with the introduction of broadband and when mobile phones became smart the whole design-weight shifted. Young and restless designers turned online and invented a new design language, quite independent from what was going on with print. When the masses embraced the online experience, mainly due to the fact it was free, the print world started embracing the online design scheme. These days it is the web that sets the tone when it comes to the look & feel of publications.
Artists Are Loving the Challenge & Feedback of Online Communities
The online universe is swarming with design, art and photography communities. Artists of all walks of life are finding solace in the warm embrace of online comraderies. The ability to share your work with similar-minded individuals, get feedback and build connections in your industry is a prize worth going after. But what most artists struggle with is how to translate their online cred to real world recognition, or at least work.
Enter GuruShots, a global online platform for photographers, both amateurs and professionals, that had setup photo competitions as the glue that stick together its community. GuruShots is making a point to set itself apart from other online photography contests by shifting the focus from winning prizes to an actual multi-dialog between the photographers. While there are cash prizes to some of the photo challenges – each is revolving around a specific theme, like “Abandoned”, “Colorful Surfaces”, “It’s Time” and “Face in the Crowd” to name a few – the real prize for the participating photographers is the feedback from the community that often drills down to craft and techniques rather than declarative compliments. Does this makes it the best amateur photography contest online? Well, it depends what you’re looking for.
From Posting a Photo Online to Seeing it Hanged in a Gallery
GuruShots took it upon itself to give back to its community by bridging the gap for them between the online and the real world. GuruShots is organizing – and footing the bill – exhibitions in art galleries all around the world that showcase the work of their community. They act as agent-of-sorts for the photographers that take part in their challenges by providing them with real life exposure.
There’s nothing a photographer (or any artist for that matter) wants more than seeing their work hanged on a wall of a trendy gallery, properly lit, and folks with a wine glass in their hand observing it.
On top of the personal satisfaction that a photographer gets from the experience, the GuruShots exhibitions are attracting real life agents and collectors that can ignite a photographer’s career.
ORMS School of Photography gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Real Life Exposure for Photographers
It is definitely an awesome perk for photographers. GuruShots could have easily left it with equipment or cash prizes and not bother with the hassle of booking galleries, printing and framing photographs and publicizing the exhibitions. To this date, more than 7000 photographers’ work has been exhibited in galleries all over the globe. That’s exposure on a massive scale, exposure for photographers that otherwise would have not been able to exhibit and enjoy their fifteen minutes of fame.
