Here we are again, another Fotoseptiembre –our 24th– is in the bag.

As always, we try to coax meaning from the mix. Good luck with that. Meaning is fleeting, flighty and highly interpretive; very difficult to pin down, much less hold in place. Maybe next year –our 25th– we could try to extrapolate from the laden consequence associated with the milestone, and may finally pin a substantive meaning to our efforts. But don’t hold your breath.

So, in the absence of meaningful wisdom, we find it more pragmatic and attainable to instead point out a few insights we have gleaned in the last few weeks; small things that seem to make a difference or maybe make a heart skip a beat.

Some of our random appreciations this year are: When you get down to it, the history of family, every family, is the foundational bedrock of all big historical moments. The world’s supply of plant seeds is compelling subject matter, and food gets around in spite of restrictive immigration policies. Realities are meant to be re-imagined and reconstructed, but keep your rouge and powder at hand because makeup is an important part of the process. Beauty, for the most part, is in the eye of the camera holder; viewers frequently disagree. Without nuns… well without nuns San Antonio would have been a very sick city. Whereas painters tend to focus on the edge of the frame, photographers tend to focus on the center (an observation from a local, well-respected visual artist). Serving in the United States Armed Forces is apparently a good foundation for a photography career, especially for women. Irony is alive and well on the streets.

Eats and drinks are always well represented at photography exhibits, but apparently soundtracks (live bands, DJs, streaming, etc.) are now a must. Instead of engaging a quiet contemplative moment at a gallery, art and music frequently come together to create a fantasy experience best appreciated by younger viewers and a few, graying, oldies-but-goodies holdouts. Just like most everything else in life.

But the main takeaway from Fotoseptiembre in 2018 is that the enthusiasm and aspiration of an incipient artist can, and will, surmount many obstacles regardless of the lack of expertise. To this we might add that a beginner’s mind, in the sense that it reflects a fresh approach, is a good thing. However, as we have learned throughout the years, as inspiring as it has been to see the excitement and passion behind hundreds of beginners’ efforts, counting on beginner’s luck as a career strategy is a sure bet for disappointment. Keep it fresh, yes, but always mindful of dedicated perseverance and excellence and skill in execution.

We thank all our media friends for their continued support, and we thank all of you for joining us as artists, organizers, hosts, curators, promoters, and enthusiastic viewers.

Hope to see you again next year.

FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA SAFOTO