My First Photo Exhibit in Boston: Lucky Break or Artist’s Dilemma?
#012 - Help me choose two photos to print, frame, and display on the gallery wall.
Photo A: Snap in Time.
BREAKING NEWS: I have been offered a marvelous opportunity to display my photography in an Italian restaurant gallery in Boston.
Yes, I feel honored — but at the same time, my head is spinning with thoughts and questions. I’d love to share this milestone with you. Can you help me choose? As a thank-you, you could win a signed 8.5×11 inch archival Giclée print of your favorite finalist.
My Big Chance
I will be displaying two printed and framed photographs starting this September. It’s a casual Italian style pizza and sandwich restaurant with counter order service and a half a dozen tables. There is a large, long brick wall that doubles as a gallery. The owner supports local artists, transforming that wall into a rotating exhibit space.
Once my photos are printed, framed, and ready for installation, I’ll share the details — location, timing, and photos on the wall.
As I thought about my culling process — how to narrow down from a mountain of images to just two — I realized something: I want you to be part of this process with me.
I’ve narrowed my choices to 10 favorites from over 150 “A” Keepers in my Lightroom catalog. That’s 10 out of more than 160,000 photos spanning 25+ years. How I got here remains a mystery even to me — but I’ll walk you through my thinking.
Your input will help me decide which two images go on the wall.
Can You Help Me? A Challenge to YOU 🫵
Are you up for a challenge?
I'm inviting you — readers, followers, and curious passers-by — to help me choose two final prints for my first gallery wall exhibit. I've narrowed it down to five framed contenders, and your input will help guide my final selection.
👉 Before you take the survey, take a moment to view and reflect on all five images in this post (Photos A to E).
Glance. Pause.
Which ones move you? Speak to you? Repel or bore you?
Make a mental note — or jot down your reactions — then scroll to the survey and let me know what you think.
💡 All responses are anonymous and used only for my decision-making — nothing will be shared or attributed to you. I truly appreciate your perspective.
🎁 BONUS for Survey Responders:
As a thank-you, I’ll randomly select up to 4 participants to receive a signed 8.5×11 inch archival Giclée print from the IMAGE FRONTIERS collection. You’ll choose your favorite from the ten images shown today — and I’ll ship it directly to you (U.S. shipping only). International winners, we can figure out shipping cost share if crazy.
This is my way of showing gratitude for your support and for joining me on this creative journey. See the additional photos below.
My Top of Mind Thoughts: Approach
Have you ever glanced at artwork in a restaurant? Ever wanted to see if they were for sale, or just for display? Did it make you feel anything? Did you wonder why it was chosen?
This opportunity raised questions I wasn’t expecting. And not just about which photo to pick — but about what I want from my photography at all.
To be clear, I have no illusions that this exhibit will lead to greatness, fame, or a global art career. In truth, there’s a skeptical little voice inside me that wonders if any of this will matter.
But there's also that sliver of hope: that maybe, someday, someone will remember one of my images — and feel something.
What I truly want is to move people. To spark an emotion — joy, curiosity, stillness, wonder — like the ones I feel when I capture a keeper.
Photo B: Fountain Fun!
How to Pick the Two
As I started thinking about my selection, my instinct kicks-in. I always put myself in the mind or shoes of the customer. However, the photographer artist role I am revealing, reminds me of the prevailing philosophy of the artist. Follow their vision, keep working to improve your body of work, and disregard others and what they think.
So I feel that familiar tension pulling at me again. Do I follow the artist’s compass or the marketer’s gut?
The artist in me wants to express vision, emotion, and authenticity — regardless of what others think.
The businessperson in me says:
Who is the audience (patrons of restaurant)?
What are their problems, needs or interests (no clue) that patrons have?
What would interest them while they eat or wait for their food to be ready?,
Well, if people want to buy the photos, what would they want to buy?
What does the owner want? The curator? The restaurant community?
What does success look like?
OMG… does your brain hurt yet like mine?
I find myself torn between artistic integrity and practical sense — wondering what the owner wants, what the curator expects, what the community appreciates.
👉 Seen all 5? Click below and help me make this decision!
⚠️ Please review all 5 photos before clicking “Help Me Choose.”
🎁 BONUS for RESPONDERS: I’ll randomly select up to 4 participants to receive an 8.5×11 inch Giclée print on archival paper — a thank-you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Photo C: Golden Hour Layers.
If you know someone who loves photography or gallery work, feel free to share this post with them too!
My Personal Crossroads: Artist-Photographer OR Professional Photographer
This restaurant wall is forcing a deeper reflection:
🔄 Why am I doing this? What do I want from my photography — for myself, and for others?
Is it digital downloads?
Fine-art prints?
Books on street photography and urban design?
Or… is it simply the joy of making something meaningful?
Right now, I’m doing this for me — with no (okay, maybe a tiny) expectation of profit.
At this stage of life, I just want to know I’ve made a difference. I know I’ve done that in business. But will I do that in my photography?
My Current Guiding Force in Photography:
What makes sense to me now is this: I want my work to have an emotional impact.
To help guide this process, I’ve managing a simple system — my way of evaluating photos with three critical human motivators: heart, mind, and craft. It has four parts:
Photography — technical execution, processing, presentation
Subject or Object — is the focus clear and compelling?
The Photographer — what’s my contribution or vision in the shot?
Viewer Emotive Reaction — does the image evoke anything visceral or emotional? Or is it …..blah.
Getting from hundreds to 5
Recently, I’ve embraced a new practice that’s been a game-changer: printing.
Small 5×7 prints, laid out on a table — held, compared, rearranged.
There’s just no substitute for seeing images this way — not even Lightroom’s grid view.
Here’s my workflow:
I use keywords and flags in Lightroom to isolate potential show-worthy images
I locate those prints (or print them fresh)
I physically review and compare side-by-side
That’s how I got to 10, and then quickly to the 5 you’ll see below — shared with you and a few trusted peers.
Photo D: Modern Viking Ship.
The Challenge to Solve For:
Now, with my top 5 and 10 in hand, my business brain reactivates.
What do people want to see on the wall in a restaurant?
Here’s my current thinking:
Street photography may not sell well for wall art
Buyers often respond emotionally — nostalgia, beauty, color, memory
It may match their decor, or remind them of somewhere meaningful
It might just strike them… and they think: “This could be worth something.”
What do you think?
Photo E: Boston Ice, Rain, & Snow.
The Artists Dilemma
As many of you know, I’m currently on sabbatical — exploring photography, learning new techniques, and building a body of work.
I still wrestle with this question:
Am I a photographer? Or just someone who loves photography?
Maybe I don’t need to decide yet.
If you know someone who loves photography or gallery work, feel free to share this post with them too!
Calling for Your Help 🫵
So that’s where you come in. As you scrolled down this post, you have seen all 5 Photos, A through E. Please take another moment to view them again — and then share your thoughts via the survey.
👉 Seen all 5? Click below and help me make this decision!
⚠️ Please review all 5 photos before clicking “Help Me Choose.”
🎁 BONUS for RESPONDERS: I’ll randomly select up to 4 participants to receive an 8.5×11 inch Giclée print on archival paper — a thank-you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Which one(s) evoke emotion? Could you see any of them on a wall — yours, or someone else’s? If none speak to you — I want to know that too.
Honorable Mentions
The 5 Honorable Mentions below didn’t make the final cut, but I thought you might enjoy seeing them. Click to enlarge.
Thank you in advance for your time, perspective, and generosity.
This process is helping me refine my eye, improve my work, and — hopefully — connect with you in a more meaningful way.
Lessons learned 🧠
Not a lot to unpack here, but there are some learnings as I shot and wrote this:
Culling is Critical — I’ve spent years learning how to identify what makes a good photo better than the next. Other people’s insights often reveal things I miss.
Printing is Key — Lightroom helps manage my archive (~170,000 images), but prints reveal subtleties you can't see on screen.
Be Objective — It’s hard with your own work. But applying clear metrics helps you improve, compare consistently, and grow as a photographer.
Your Turn 🤔
I am curious. Am I the only photographer, person who goes through these mental masturbations as I decide where to prioritize and spend my time and decide what to shoot, write, or print/produce? Am I the only one who jumps from idea to idea — who struggles to stay in a single, neatly defined lane of creative focus?
How do you evaluate your own photos for showing, sharing, or printing?
What kinds of work should go on a restaurant wall?
Are you an artist or creative? How do you reach your audience?
If you’ve made it this far — thank you! 🙏
Now... can you take the survey and let me know what you think?
Seen all 5? Click below and help me make this decision!
⚠️ Please review all 5 photos before clicking “Help Me Choose.”
🎁 BONUS for RESPONDERS: I’ll randomly select up to 4 participants to receive an 8.5×11 inch Giclée print on archival paper — a thank-you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Closing Thought This Week
I am back. Still in the boot, but I am walking on it and ditched the knee roller. Its good to be walking, just 6800 steps yesterday. Its a metal boot so its noisy/clanky so its hard to be that invisible street photographer… for now.
So tell me—WHAT’S UP with You? 👀 What are you shooting, seeing, exploring, or just thinking about this summer? Traveling?
Copyright Stuff
All photographs and images were taken and produced by me, David Rosen. Feel free to share this post by linking to it, re-stacking, or creating notes to spread the word! The images may not be reproduced or distributed without my explicit permission. If you would like to use the photos, I'd be glad to accommodate you — so please contact me at Click@davidrosenphoto.com. Thank you for supporting my work—subscribe or share to stay connected with my photography journey.