'In an Instant' Group Exhibition Summary & Photographs

Around this time last week, my friend from Uni, Steven Alan, asked me whether I would like to participate within a group exhibition, with the theme of Instant Photography, just four days time from then. I agreed as I had six Polaroids from my 'Wish You Were Here' series to show, mounted and framed, and also a small collection of shots taken with a variety of different types of 'Impossible Project' film. I thought it was a great opportunity to be a part of, to continue to get work seen, and business cards taken, and I also sold an original Polaroid print, to my friend Anastasia, thank you again, Annie!

In the end there were four of us exhibiting, Steven Alan, Samantha Kemp, Lewis Groom and I. I feel we all did a very good job of getting everything together and ready on time for a good weekend show, especially Steven. We had a steady flow of visitors, considering the weather and the late notice.

 

The weekend was inspiring and this past week I've really been having lots of new ideas for ways to be pro-active Photography-wise. I am definitely now planning how to produce a photobook of my 'Wish You Were Here' series, so that I can then exhibit the series and photobook, either this year or next, in a solo exhibition. Stay tuned for future blogs on this, and possibly sneak peaks of new Polaroid shots.

Melissa x

The beginning of 'Cameras and Pencils'

Hello to anyone reading. 'Cameras and Pencils' is a new blog created by myself, Melissa Contreras, with the aim of providing regular posts of creative material produced with the use of either a variety of cameras, film or digital, or with pencil and paper (and possibly watercolour also). The majority of the work here shall be my own but I may decide to feature other Photographers and Artists in time, and if so, credit will be given at all times, to them.

I take/make photographs because I feel compelled to capture specific moments in time, to remember the glimmer of truth, that those moments provided. Whether it's towards a project or collection of work, relating to a theme or idea, or whether it's for personal use, it's a part of who I am. I sketch because I like the aspect of being connected to a person going about their lives, that I do not know, mostly, for several minutes of each of our days, knowing that they were sitting, thinking, and I was sat there wondering what was going through their mind. The studying of human nature and how people behave, think, act etc has always interested me, and so photography and sketching has been a way for me to express this.

Thank you for reading, please check back regularly as I will be posting often. Comments, emails etc are always welcome.

Melissa x