I love photography. There is nothing more satisfying to me then spending the day either trekking into some of the older villages, camera in hand, or up in my studio with the window covered in a heavy black out cloth and my Dedolights doing heavy duty while I experiment with different lighting techniques.

After long thought, I decided to try the art festival circuit. I found a website that listed many of the markets in Germany. I started like I usually do – by making a list.

I proceeded to buy the supplies I thought I would need: an EZ Up tent (shipped from the Netherlands), tables, mesh walls to hang my photos on (which my husband made), display bins, deco articles (accumulated to make the booth pleasing to potential customers)…and on the list went. When everything was assembled and ready to go, I started looking into art shows (Kunsthandwerkmarkt) in the area. There weren’t many, I soon found. So, I looked further out and started applying. Rejections came in with one common theme. Photography was not accepted. Photography is not an art? Are they crazy?

It’s a sad wake up call for fine art photographers here who want a chance to display their work to the public at large.

So, where to go from there? There are local organizations who put on their own festivals. I have contacted several and the one festival that will be held in June, I will be exhibiting.

Until then, I will remain up in my studio with the dark curtain in place creating new photos and shaking my head at the shortsightedness of people.