Visitors

I enjoy going to art shows and photography exhibits in Second Life. I have joined several art and photography groups, so I get notices just about every day, so I usually visit two or three per day. Many times I am able to strike up a conversation with someone who is visiting the exhibit, or many times it is the artist or photographer having that exhibit, and if they seem interested, I invite to see my work some time.

There have been several who have come to see my photography exhibits at Sheba and other places. I always invite them to make comments. I have learned a great deal from their expertise. I am trying to learn not to be so thin-skinned when the critique seems to be a little tough. Many times they question me about how I achieved certain looks, and some have said that they wished they could achieve that certain look. Of course comments like that make me feel good.

Then there may be times that the more expert photographer will say what he or she thinks would make the picture better. Perhaps a little more saturation, some burning around the edges, or more contrast.

There have been several people from Sheba Island who have visited. Some of them came to my larger "grand opening of Sheba" exhibit which lasted about three weeks. Many times I invite them over to see the T.S.T.C. student photo exhibit, and they are always amazed at the beautiful campus.

This last Friday I was in the Student Gallery above our classrooom, which is supposed to be a private area. I was a little surprised to notice on my on-screen radar that someone else was on the island. It was not anyone I had remembered seeing there before. (By the way, my friend Lowri Mills gave me the SL perfect HUD, which lists the avatars that are in the area....up to about 90 meters, I believe. This has really helped to know who is behind me, or in the area.)

Anyway, I had just started to do the critiques when I noticed this unfamiliar name. I noticed according to the numbers that the avatar was coming closer. Finally, he was near me and I turned around and introduced myself when he said, "Hello." He introduced himself as someone on the administrative staff from T.S.T.C. in Waco. He said he had not seen the student photography exhibit yet. It had been a while since he had visited the area, he said.

He looked at the exhibits and was interested to see my work, so I showed him my phography for Unit 1. He thought that the Gaylord Texan must be a beautiful place and wanted to take his wife there sometime. He said that he especially liked my photo of the shadow of the lamp on the "pavers," or tiles. That was a little surprising to me, because I thought it was such a simple subject, just the shadow on the tiles. I guess I thought some of the more complicated compositions were better, but I am learning that simiplicity can be compelling.

He also said that T.S.T.C. in Waco has some nice equipment for people wanting to develop games. I understood him to say that Conoco had donated a super
computer that could control other computers, so that rendering of scenes can be done quickly. He also said that they have some Motion Capture (MoCap) equipment, and that was really fascinating to me. He said that the course is being offered this summer, so it might possibly be offered in summers to come.

Anyway, it was a very interesting visit with a V.I.P. from T.S.T.C. in Waco and I was just amazed that he would be that interested to spend a few minutes talking to a student about photograpy. It was very encouraging. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time...to receive a word of encouragement.