Local gallery features Raleigh photographers, including me

My friends know that I rarely go anywhere without my camera. I’ve learned the hard way that if you leave it at home you will miss the photographic moments that will never repeat themselves. For me, this realization came when I was at Snoopy’s hot dog stand in Raleigh one Saturday afternoon and a limo pulled up. Out stepped a bride and groom in their frilly and formal glory. They were there to order a hotdog because that’s where the met. But alas, I was without my camera.

So when a friend invited me to participate in a friendly photo competition with the promise of a gallery viewing at the end, I couldn’t resist.  Stan at Crocker’s Mark Gallery in Raleigh agreed to open up his gallery walls to 50 entrants from the Raleigh Flickr group. For some of us, it was the first opportunity we’ve ever had to see our work hanging in a gallery.

The contest rules were simple. Any photo shot anywhere between Aug. 1 and Sept. 1, 2008 was eligible. With such broad guidelines, you can imagine how diverse the entries were (everything from a controversial close-up of a penis to serene nature scenes).

The show opened on First Friday and runs through the end of December. If you’d like to see my photo (it’s the one the guy below is looking at) and the other interesting and well-composed shots, stop by the gallery.

The gallery is open from 11 to 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. It stays open till 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and on Saturdays you can pop by from 1 to 4 p.m., so says the gallery’s website.

A lot of the photos are for sale (mine’s not, but if someone made and offer, I’d probably sell it to you). So please check it out and support local photographers.