Tonight, we laid out the final candidates for my portrait show at the Round House Cafe in September.

All but three made the final cut, it was exciting to see them all lined up for the first time. George Forss printed them up and he did a beautiful job. Maria found some nice but inexpensive frames and mats (she used to work in a frame shop, among her many other skills) and she and I will put them all together.

We both agreed on the final cuts, I’d love to put all of them up but there isn’t room. There will be a reception for the public and for the portrait subjects and their families from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, September 18th at the cafe, 1 Washington Street, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

I think the show is uplifting and warm and at the same time, it captures my intention of photograph people I love and respect and who work very hard. That is the spirit of my town, I hope to capture the powerful sense of community that lives here, despite years of government neglect and vanishing employers.

Maria has been so supportive of this project, I have great ambivalence about photo shows for many reasons, but I think this one was very to do. I will keep up with my portrait. At the top right is a color photograph of Kelly Nolan, who inspired the idea of this show for me. I hope one day to do a Kelly Nolan photo show, I need to find a place.

I’m not sure who buys portraits in a portrait show, bu we are working hard to keep the price far below the norm for black and white photographs in shows. The frames and matting and printing will end up costing more than $1,000, sometimes I think people are crazy to have photo shows. But I do hope the show will put some light on the hard-working and good people who make up a community.