Notes on How to Photograph A Photo Exhibition

Visiting Photo London 2022

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Recently while I was in London this summer, I heard of the Photo London Exhibition. I went ahead and booked a day pass for 14th May 2022. After sorting the entry, then it was time for the small prints, yes they are important. I found no big lens (I decided that they meant chunky), no tripod and another 3000 things which are not allowed. So I decided to pack light with my two Nikon bodies (not that I have any more of it), Nikon 24-120 and my Zeiss 50. I packed the DJI pocket 2 as well, but that's only because my bag felt unconvincingly light for a 25 pounds entry exhibit in central London, that too in the Somerset House. We third worlders don't allow ourselves to take any first world city buildings, exhibits, roads, vending machines, e-tickets for granted. So, Photo London 2022 was a Big thing for me, in my life it was probably the most important post-pandemic event along with 900 others. It was serious. I was serious.

The air was packed with all the seriousness that I could afford, it was only then when I discovered that I don't know how to photograph an exhibition, let alone the first world, central London and the buzz of ticket price converted in Indian rupees. I asked for all the help I could from the World Wide Web and 33 tabs in Safari (yes that's how subtly I brag about using Mac and Apple products). But I didn't manage to get much resource. Only two-three useful links-for-dumbos came to rescue. A link from the website of the Royal College of Art was very useful. Then a post by Mr. Kev Dadfar reading '7 Tips For Photographing Museums and Galleries' helped me to fare a bit more. And the last one I found to be useful was from was from Matt Adams, it was published back in 2017 on the NatGeo web. It was precise and very helpful. Though all of them were regarding how to photograph in museums or on how to photograph a piece of art. On how to photograph Photographs at a Photography exhibition there was me and only me. So I figured that I had to improvise and on the same note don't forget I'm an Indian and also let it be noted that then I had to sleep as it was already 3 in the morning. The next morning I reached the exhibition venue 30 minutes earlier than they were set to open. Reaching there I found that its not only pounds-converted-into-rupees what made people reach the venue earlier, but about those reasons that I didn't find that day. But I found something else, of gigantic importance, that they won't allow backpacks of any kind as they might be a potential weapon to hurt art-loving people (although after a few hours I saw many substantial offenders carrying that weapon with them in the galleries. And I'm not racist). So I had to keep my bag in the Cloak room and my cameras with lenses mounted stayed with me. Then there I was, inside the haloed ground of a Photo Exhibition in London costing 15 days of minimum wage of a person in my country. I was thrilled.

I was in contradiction that nobody had anything that prepared me for the day. I was scared seeing so many confident photo-loving people in an exhibition. I was happy seeing them relish artworks and inspire photographers in their quest. And I was awestruck seeing so many outstanding creations in front of me by so many outstanding photographers. But then I was scared again, as I still didn't know how to photograph this experience. And I had my notebook, a slim week-to-view diary with leafy prints, with few notes that I had made.

I checked out of the venue at round 4 in the afternoon. I got back home, transferred data from the cards and started getting them ready in Lightroom. I'm attaching too many images with this post, I know that's a data-ram crime sometimes, but I have to. Because only after making you watching those I'ld be able to finally discuss what I'm here for. So please bear with my overdose of pointless paragraphs.

From the Slim Week-to-View Habitat Diary with Leafy Prints

It was only when I was unable to get much insight on how to make tangible images in this circumstance I was preparing for, in the internet, I thought that I need to get it clear what I want to do and what I can't do. That's what the diary is for and here is what I had learned from my experience of visiting Photo London 2022 or in generic term photographing a photography exhibition.

Entry 1:

Expectation: When it comes to photographing a photograph or artwork, Ideally you have to put that in a dark/black background so that no light reflects from the pod on the background of the artwork. Harsh Lighting can cause unwanted glares. So in the controlled set up avoid using spot lamps. Diffused light or natural/window light is the best option here. If the location is outdoor then an overcast condition is best for this kind of work.

Reality: In an exhibition dark/black backgrounds are not used in general. Use bright colours or white is the go to option for the arrangers. So is the situation is in case of lighting. Exhibitions are light riots. Those with glass panels using natural lights as well with spot lighting are even trickier. Day time visits to these galleries are lighting nightmare in regards to the expected scenario.

Entry 2:

To be continued...

Image Gallery: Photographing Photo London 2022