#19 - It's the Great Baltimore Print Swap!

Plus: a print sale to support independent journalism in Baltimore

Dear readers,

From now through January 1st, all profits from my online print shop will be donated to The Baltimore Beat—an independent free print and online news source serving Baltimore. I believe a publicly accessible, independent press is essential for combating widespread ignorance and improving media literacy, and The Baltimore Beat is making that vision a reality. They distribute free papers throughout the city, collaborate with youth media literacy programs to engage high schoolers in journalism, and integrate the work of local artists prominently alongside news and editorials. By purchasing a print, you’re not only supporting my work—you’re contributing to the sustainability of independent journalism in Baltimore.

As a thank-you to Ten Minute Exposure readers, enjoy 20% off your purchase with promo code TME20 at checkout.

This past Saturday, December 7th, marked the second time Patrick Joust and I hosted a print swap at the Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. In addition to our monthly photo book meet-ups, we wanted to create a space where photographers could print their work and have it seen off-screen.

We believed that this would not only encourage a sense of community but also offer a unique way for photographers to connect through their art.

And because art is best when shared, why not let everyone trade prints and go home with a collection of inspiring work from their fellow photographers?

The turnout was great! We had about thirty local photographers bring a selection of their printed work to show off and trade.

I love this event for a few reasons. First, it’s the perfect excuse to dive into your archives and make some prints. I’ve always believed that printing your work is one of the best ways to grow as a photographer, whether you’re a hobbyist, an amateur, or a professional. Seeing your photos in print takes them out of the digital realm and frees them from all the social media noise. No likes, no viewer counts—just you and the image. You see what works and what doesn’t.

Second, it’s incredible to see how people respond to your work in person. There’s no mindless scrolling or quick, throwaway comments like “banger!” or “nice tones!” Instead, you get to watch people critically engage with your photos in a thoughtful and personal way. It’s always surprising which images resonate with others—often, it’s one I hadn’t given much thought to.

Third, it’s great to see what people bring to this event. Some put together special sequences of photos around a theme. Others brought out entire folios of work going back years. I love sifting through their selections, asking them questions about their experiences, their process, their vision.

So, yeah. Not just an excuse to trade prints—also a great way to learn a thing or two.

Also, because this is Baltimore, worlds have an interesting way of colliding. The fine folks from Wildlife Adventures were in the library for some children’s programming later in the day. They obliged our request to bring their snakes by the print swap. You know. To give it some pizzazz.

I’ll say this: you’ve never seen your work until it’s printed. And you’ve never seen your work printed until a corn snake is slithering across it.

All said and done, I brought home some gorgeous prints from John Couts, Matt Hoff, Sam Rosen, Kat Staggers, Liz Flyntz, Patrick Joust, and Sam Levin.

We hold our events at the Enoch Pratt Free Library so that they remain free and open to the public. It’s great to have non-photographers drop in, look around, and walk away with a newfound interest in the arts.

If you’re interested in attending or participating, give me a follow over on Instagram. I post the dates about a month out with a calendar reminder. If you’re not on Instagram, stay tuned here: I’ll make sure to include information in the newsletter in advance of our next book club or print swap.

A quick technical note: I print all my photos using Nations Photo Lab in Hunt Valley, MD. My go-to choice is Fujicolor Crystal Archive Super Type paper with a Lustre finish. I trust Nations because they’re local, and their professional color correction services consistently deliver photos that look exactly the way I want them to look—even when I mess up the proofing (which happens more often than I’d like to admit). For the record, I don’t get any kickbacks or discounts for recommending them. I just believe in their results so much that I want to share their name with anyone looking to get started with printing their own photographs.

See you next time.