From Capture to Gallery: The Art of Presenting Fine Art Photography

For photographers, having a clear creative framework – whether planning a book or developing a themed series – can transform random shooting into purposeful photography. Arthur Drooker’s journey with “36 Views of the Golden Gate Bridge” demonstrates how specific guidelines can both spark innovation and provide direction.

Drooker chose 36 images as an homage to Hokusai’s famous Mount Fuji series, finding it the perfect number to impose creative discipline while telling a complete story.

The Value of Creative Constraints

“To me, a sequence should only be as long as the number of photographs you need to tell that story,” Drooker explains. His project began with three simple rules: no postcard shots, black and white only, and shooting from unusual vantage points. These self-imposed constraints became a creative compass, guiding his lens and helping answer the eternal question: “Where should I point my camera today?”

From Project to Exhibition

The Image Flow gallery in San Anselmo will showcase 14 carefully selected images from the complete series of 36.  For the exhibition,  “For that, I thought it would probably be best that each of the 14 images, you get a very clear view of the bridge as opposed to some of the more abstract images of the bridge,” Drooker explains.

This curation process demonstrates how a cohesive project can evolve into different forms. Whether your end goal is an exhibition, a book, or simply a personal series, having a clear vision helps shape your work into a meaningful whole.

Exhibition Design: Creating Flow

Rather than grouping similar orientations together, Drooker chose to mix vertical and horizontal images. “I interspersed horizontals with the portraits,” he explains. “I really wanted to mix it up to keep the eye moving up down across.”

This approach was inspired by wisdom shared years ago. “A museum curator taught me that lesson years ago… He advised me in a very friendly way… really play around with the size of your prints and also horizontals versus verticals.” The curator’s words stuck with him: “He said, I never forget, he said you want an undulation of the eye… It was a great lesson in how to present prints.”

The Book Journey: When Is Your Project Ready?

For photographers considering publishing their work, Drooker offers crucial insights gained from producing seven or eight books. He emphasizes starting with fundamental questions: “Is this a book? Now, you could answer that very easily and say yes, because the means of production now are in the hands of everybody… But if you’re a serious photographer who wants to make a book of your work, ask yourself, is this particular series you’re working on substantial enough?”

He encourages photographers to remember that not every project needs to become a book. “And that’s OK. It doesn’t make your series any less valid. It just may mean it’s not a book or it may not be a book just yet.” The value lies in the creative journey and the development of your photographic voice.

Understanding your project’s potential audience can also open doors for funding. Museums or galleries that connect with your work might help seek financial support for book production. As Drooker notes, the answers to these fundamental questions “have ripple effects on how you can go about putting the book together.”

Understanding Your Audience

When your project does evolve toward publication, identifying your audience becomes crucial. “Who is the audience for this book?” Drooker asks. “Is it what we would call loosely a general readership? Do you think this would have a general audience or is it for a specific audience?”

These questions shape everything that follows: “There’s no wrong answer here, but it’s a question that you should ask yourself because that will form a lot about how the book gets done from soup to nuts.”

Looking Forward: New Projects as Creative Guides

Even as this project reaches completion, Drooker is already exploring new creative territories. “I realized I wasn’t really done with the bridge,” he reveals. He’s now working on a color series – “36 Views of the Golden Gate Bridge” – but with a twist. Instead of photographing the bridge directly, he’s documenting how others depict it throughout San Francisco.

This new project, like his previous work, demonstrates how having a clear concept can guide your photography. Whether shooting street scenes, architectural studies, or abstract work, having a framework helps focus your vision and develop your unique photographic voice.

The Journey Continues

These evolving projects remind us that photography is not just about capturing images – it’s about continuing to explore, discover, and push creative boundaries. Whether working on carefully planned fine art projects or spontaneous street photography, the key is having a clear vision that guides your lens while remaining open to new possibilities and perspectives.

This concludes our three-part series exploring Arthur Drooker’s “36 Views of the Golden Gate Bridge” project and his insights into photography project development.  If you’d like to purchase this book please visit:   https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/CNJYJQVTJ95D4

The exhibition runs until April 4, 2025, at Image Flow in San Anselmo, California.

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