Photo Showing Again

I haven't photo shown for years, probably not since the early 1990s. But the pandemic has caused the hobby to circle back to its roots - live shows have been canceled or postponed across the world, and online photo shows have popped up all over the internet in their place. 

Chris Wallbruch volunteered to set up and host a monthly show series for Great Lakes Congress. If you're a member, then you can enter for free. I entered the May show and did pretty well despite my rustiness.

Creamsicle won the Custom British Ponies class and went on to be Custom Other Breed Reserve Champion.

 Windsong Sherif, my favorite piece in my china collection, won the China Light Foals class

and Harry Potter took first in the China Non Light Foal class.

 Jaarko placed first in China European Pony

and Marcelline won the China Non-Realistic/Fantasy class.

Windsong Adelaide took first in the China Longears/Exotics class, was Other Breeds Halter Champion, and Reserve Grand Champion of China.

What was so much fun for me about the online showing was that I could enter pieces that I rarely (if ever) bring to shows because I do not want to damage or break them. Just taking them out of the china cabinets to photograph them made me nervous.

Misty Dawn, my Animal Artistry Rearing Arabian is rarely out of the cabinet. It was nice to get to show her.

Barnum's Moonlight, a very rare Metlox Poppytrail Medium Circus Horse was a piece I searched for for decades. 

Poppet, my Head Up Pink/Blue Freeman Leidy Circus Horse got to be shown. These are difficult to find, expensive when you do, and very, very fragile. 

 Tinker Toy, a Cheval Gypsy Vanner came out of the china cabinet for a class. 

as did Black Diamond, a Made in Japan piece that survived being a part of my carpet herd.

While photo shows have been happening since the late 1960s, certainly interest has waned over time. But we are seeing a resurgence in them now, and I think photo showing will not be as overshadowed by live showing as it has been in the past.

Photo showing is definitely here to stay and will continue connecting hobbyists as an important, even beloved, aspect of our hobby.