ARTS 34 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Consider April 2025 a month of photography in Monterey County. PhotoCarmel 2025 is a festival organized by the Center for Photographic Art, which will be the location of workshops and meetings with photographers. Shows and other events will be held across galleries, colleges and businesses throughout the county, from Salinas to Carmel Valley. This is the first edition of the festival, grown out of PhotoWalk events CfPA has been organizing since 2016. “Carmel is, of course, the birthplace of West Coast photography,” says CfPA Executive Director Ann Jastrab, who is also a professional photographer. “People come here for photography so we decided we need a photo festival. Chicago has Filter, San Diego has Medium and Houston has FotoFest, but there is no photo festival in Central and Northern California. If people like it, we will do it every year.” For this first iteration, visitors can expect five weeks of photography exhibits and related events. “It takes a village,” Jastrab says of the organizing process, emphasizing the effort of the PhotoCarmel committee chair and photographer Nancy Sevier, who did much of the necessary “leg work,” reaching out to over 30 galleries and venues all over the county, such as ArtWorks@Salinas and the Center for Spiritual Awakening in Pacific Grove. One aspect of the festival is in-person and online portfolio reviews for photographers—one has to become a CfPA member to take advantage of this opportunity. Many of the local photographers to do so are already established artists, such as landscape photographer Micheal Scholis from Monterey, whose focus goes beyond the American landscape, exploring how economic policies and cultural influences shape the Western world. (That is how he describes his work.) Another artist ready for a portfolio review is Dante Calcagno, one the youngest participants to be reviewed. Based in Aptos, he can be found in the transitional light of the morning and evening with camera in hand. “As a student of photography, I have access to peer feedback,” he says. “But a portfolio review with CfPA is a chance to have a mentor-type critique of your work. There are not many opportunities like that in the area.” Fifty-six in-person portfolio reviews will be conducted by seven professionals, working with over 20 artists. And that is only a part of the month’s activities. (Calcagno applied for a single review, but many photographers applied to several.) There are also workshops for photographers. Carolyn Drake will talk about photo books (see Hot Picks listing, p. 32). In another, an inkjet printing clinic, up to 15 participants will experiment with different printers and paper types. It’s presented by Eric Joseph who has been working with the Freestyle company for 40 years. “Printing your own images is not necessarily simple, easy or intuitive,” Joseph says. “It takes some skill and a lot of people make the big mistake of just buying a printer, plugging it in and being disappointed with the results.” According to Joseph, the type—even the brand—of monitor makes a noticeable difference. “A lot of people have Apple monitors or they have laptops,” he points out. “Those monitors are not good for editing or printing.” The workshop will cover subjects such as monitor calibration, or as Joseph simplifies it, “making sure of what you’re seeing on your monitor. Not mentioning that you will always see things in your prints that you don’t see on a computer screen. Things in your print are bigger than what you’ve seen on your screen.” Some problems have a lower-tech solution. Many photographers call Joseph complaining that their prints are too dark—and it turns out they work in a dark office with a single shaded lamp. “And I’m like, turn the lights on,” he says with a laugh. In addition to many attractions for photographers and a reception for CfPA’s annual members’ show, there’s a lot for the general public—exhibits, workshops and talks will be held at the Monterey Museum of Art, CSU Monterey Bay and the Pacific Grove Public Library, just to name a few venues. Photographers such as Brian Taylor, Robert Feist, Barbara Bullock and Oliver Klink will be involved and available. The keynote speaker for the festival is Berkeley-based photographer Richard Misrach. Since Carmel’s tradition of photography has been focused on landscapes, Misrach, who does enormous color landscapes, seemed perfect to kick off the festival. He has a new book coming, devoted to the shipping industry, which he will be happy to sign. The upcoming weekend will be particularly packed with events, but in the following weeks schools, businesses (from Sweet Elena’s Bakery and Cafe in Sand City to Trailside Cafe in Carmel Valley to Cherry Bean Coffeehouse in Salinas) and galleries (Temple Garage Art Studio, Bradley Photography, Gallery Exposed and countless others) will open their door to the public to show off their photography and showcase their photographers. PhotoCarmel: A Celebration of Photography on the Central Coast takes places from Friday, March 28-Sunday, May 4, at various times and venues. Prices range from free-$350; some events are sold out. 6255181, photography.org. Photo Feast A new festival is a reminder that Monterey County remains a center of photographic art. By Agata Popęda “People come here for photography. We need a festival.” Above: Eric Joseph talking about the secrets of successful digital photo printing. Below: CfPA member Gene Dominique’s “Rev. Lovely Moore” is one of many pieces presented within the annual members’ show that is on display through May 4. ERIC JOSEPH/FREESTYLE GENE DOMINIQUE
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