Slideluck Potshow

Show Your Slides

Want to be included in an upcoming Slideluck Potshow? You don’t have to be a pro, but you’ll have much more competition for SLPS shows in major media centers such as New York and Chicago, which tend to include proportionately less work by amateurs than shows in other cities.

Recent shows have taken place in Madrid, Milan, New Orleans, Portland, São Paolo, Seattle, Stockholm, and so on. While the curators tend to favor local photographers, Casey Kelbaugh encourages you to submit even if you’re not near a scheduled show. “It’s a fun thing to travel to,” he says.

While some photographers submit slickly produced shows, most do not. All you need is a strong selection of JPEG images (in the RGB color space) and a music track. You will need to upload to the SLPS server. Competition is tough. Here’s how to improve your chances:

- Follow the submission guidelines. Does the event have a theme? If so, stay loosely within the overall concept. Either way, your work should have its own central theme—collections of unrelated images don’t fly.

- Edit ruthlessly. “Editing is key,” Kelbaugh says. “Tightly edited work that’s cohesive” is the way to go.

- Don’t worry about subject matter. It’s wide open. “It can be anything—the backs of people’s knees, even—as long as it is compelling, has some intention, and is thoughtful,” he says. “We want to see your vision, clearly. Look at the site and see what’s been successful.”

- Choose upbeat music. Avoid slow or ambient sounds: “Upbeat music draws more attention to your work,” explains Kelbaugh. Then prepare your potluck dish! Get precise submission guidelines at www.slideluckpotshow.com.