Memories of the Internationals

Unruh, Alvin B., PSA Journal

More than 37 years without interruption is a long time. That's how long it has been since I received my first salon acceptance in monochrome pictorial prints. With your indulgence, I'd like to share with you a few of my experiences enroute to the Diamond Star in 1983. It is my hope some of this information will help you reach your photographic goals, whether they are exhibition success, personal fulfillment or both.

It all began in late 1955 when the Des Moines (Iowa) International Exhibition accepted my first salon entry, "Winter's Mantle"-- and it was a medal winner! Never mind, the medal was one of a hundred awarded by American Portfolios for first salon acceptances of a print which had traveled in a portfolio.

In photographing "Winter's Mantle," a snow scene, I was aware of the fact that reflected-light meters are programmed to render all scenes at an average exposure which will result in 18 percent gray. Subjects that average lighter or darker than this 18 percent will probably require exposure compensation differing from the meter reading. "Winter's Mantle" was accepted by 23 exhibitions in the period of 1955 through 1959.

My 22nd acceptance was titled "Prairie Gold." Because it was an early success, it became my most accepted print with acceptances in 124 exhibitions to date--20 of the acceptances were from overseas exhibitions. It is entered now only when a new exhibition is announced in the USA. With 104 acceptances in America, this tells us that many American exhibitions have come and gone through the years. Note that only 31 American print exhibitions were listed in the PSA Journal in all of 1991.

In photographing "Prairie Gold" great depth of field was needed to maintain sharpness from the nearby bins to the grain …

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Publication information: Article title: Memories of the Internationals. Contributors: Unruh, Alvin B. - Author. Magazine title: PSA Journal. Volume: 59. Issue: 1 Publication date: January 1993. Page number: 27+. © 2008 Photographic Society of America, Inc. COPYRIGHT 1993 Gale Group.

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