bene
Established
Critics please!
My BFA Portfolio
- Thread starter bene
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FrankS
Registered User
I like the pool hall photo. Interesting detail, the image hangs together well.
The others, not so much, but that's just my subjective opinion.
I need to ask, as your BFA portfolio, is it what you have put together to apply for the program, or is it your graduating final work?
The others, not so much, but that's just my subjective opinion.
I need to ask, as your BFA portfolio, is it what you have put together to apply for the program, or is it your graduating final work?
Last edited:
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
The photos don't hold together as a group. Is this a graduation project? or a group of photos you're submitting to get accepted into a BFA program? When I graduated with my BFA from Indiana University, we were required to produce a project where each image was part of a larger story or theme, so they all had to go together as a group.
bene
Established
This is just for application into BFA I started out about 1 yr ago and decided to dive into this area.
Gregoryniss
Well-known
not to make a complete idiot out of myself... but what is a BFA?
AusDLK
Famous Photographer
I going to be blunt.
Bene, if I was looking at portfolios for any reason, I would not be impressed with yours... at all. I'm afraid.
It's been said they don't hold together as a group, I agree. Individually they are flat and lifeless. None are compelling or demand to be seen.
Sorry, you asked. IMHO, you have a lot of work to do. I give you credit for asking for feedback. I hope it is helpful in the long run.
Bene, if I was looking at portfolios for any reason, I would not be impressed with yours... at all. I'm afraid.
It's been said they don't hold together as a group, I agree. Individually they are flat and lifeless. None are compelling or demand to be seen.
Sorry, you asked. IMHO, you have a lot of work to do. I give you credit for asking for feedback. I hope it is helpful in the long run.
bene
Established
I love honest opinion thank very much. I'll try harder. Hope to hear more when I post a better set.
swoop
Well-known
Brutal.
After looking at your flickr. I wouldn't say you're a terrible photographer. You just have piss poor editing skills. There are stronger images in there that you're not looking at.
Also you're distant. You need to get closer to your subject. Don't stand right in front of them. But most of your images seem like they're across the street. And you're shy. A lot of sides and back of head shots. Have more confidence with the camera and it'll show in your work.
Shots from the flickr that I like.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bene123/4379873263/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bene123/4550193317/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bene123/4548120166/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bene123/4539307461/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bene123/4513432057/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bene123/4487073374/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bene123/4325202578/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bene123/4305718359/
I hate telling other people where they went wrong without opening myself up too. But you can look at my site and see if my advice is of any value.
http://www.ken-m.com
I know my weaknesses. These days I tend to get too close instead of showing the "big picture." I covered this Irish beauty pageant yesterday and I got shots of these Irish dancers. But I failed to get shots of the dancers in relation to the audience because I was too focused on the one thing that was going on instead of the whole thing. We all have room for improvement.
AusDLK
Famous Photographer
Ken encouraged me to post this link.
http://www.dlkphotography.com/thumbnails.php?album=12
These are photographs that I were published in various places through the end of 2007. Find the grouping that won the Photo Techniques magazine portfolio contest for a small group of photographs that at least one photo editor thought worked together.
Also, dig though some old issues of B&W Magazine. All issues have a small portfolios from emerging photographers and they publish a portfolio contest issue once a year.
Study books of your favorite photographers, those that inspire you, those with styles that you admire -- and it's okay if you copy these styles a little bit. In time, you will develop your own style
My hero is Elliott Erwitt. I copy him consciously and unconsciously, shamelessly.
http://www.dlkphotography.com/thumbnails.php?album=12
These are photographs that I were published in various places through the end of 2007. Find the grouping that won the Photo Techniques magazine portfolio contest for a small group of photographs that at least one photo editor thought worked together.
Also, dig though some old issues of B&W Magazine. All issues have a small portfolios from emerging photographers and they publish a portfolio contest issue once a year.
Study books of your favorite photographers, those that inspire you, those with styles that you admire -- and it's okay if you copy these styles a little bit. In time, you will develop your own style
My hero is Elliott Erwitt. I copy him consciously and unconsciously, shamelessly.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Bachelors degree in Fine Arts. The degree I have. A few other RFF members have them too and a couple have MFA (Masters in Fine arts) degrees. I'm working on my Masters but in History, not Art.
Turtle
Veteran
bene,
I will also be frank, but hope it helps:
I agree with the criticism thus far in that the images are not compelling individually or as a group. They do not go together or give the viewer any idea of what you are trying to achieve. I think it is a very weak set of images, but in a few I feel I getting a glimpse of what you are trying to do, only I don't think you are yet able to do so.
Swoop is spot on. You have some FAR better images on your flikr! MILES better.
My advice is this:
Kudos for asking for feedback and the best of luck.
Rgds
I will also be frank, but hope it helps:
I agree with the criticism thus far in that the images are not compelling individually or as a group. They do not go together or give the viewer any idea of what you are trying to achieve. I think it is a very weak set of images, but in a few I feel I getting a glimpse of what you are trying to do, only I don't think you are yet able to do so.
Swoop is spot on. You have some FAR better images on your flikr! MILES better.
My advice is this:
- Spend more time in your head and less with your camera to begin with.
- Think about what photography is to you. Never mind others; everyone is different.
- Immerse yourself in inspirational work and think about why it affects you. How? Never stop doing this no matter how good you get. Nothing stands still or is finite. $500 on used books by those whose work you admire is miles more useful than a new lens.
- Set some objectives. Commence some simple projects. Keep them tight and achievable within the time you have available. It looks like you are interested in street/reportage/docu.
- Keep an open mind. Try not to force things according to a template in your head.
- Respond photographically to your instinctive responses to your environment and subjects
- Shoot like crazy, but never mindlessly. Analyse everything you do, from successes to failures that 'should have been great, but were not.'
- Enjoy it and be passionate not only about photography but what it is that you photograph. Point your camera in these directions and you will do much better.
Kudos for asking for feedback and the best of luck.
Rgds
bene
Established
Thank you for the feed back. I just started to get serious and will show a new set soon.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
I think these photos are generally dark and blurry. It almost seems like you're afraid of your subject.
If I could make a suggestion -- if photojournalism is what you're interested in, do a story on one thing. Get to know it very well -- if it's about a certain group of people, a place, even the workings of a store or business. Spend a lot of time with these people, so that you get to know them and they get to know you. Eventually they will forget about you and your camera, and then you'll be able to get in there and make some really meaningful photos.
If you're applying for a BFA program, I think that the professors would be impressed that you worked on a particular subject over a period of time, and really got to know your subject. And, supplementing that one story with a few other types of photos (some colour shots, maybe a few still life photos, even a video etc) will show that you're not just a one-trick pony. It seems that nowadays you have to be diversified to survive!
Good luck, and let us know how things are coming along....
If I could make a suggestion -- if photojournalism is what you're interested in, do a story on one thing. Get to know it very well -- if it's about a certain group of people, a place, even the workings of a store or business. Spend a lot of time with these people, so that you get to know them and they get to know you. Eventually they will forget about you and your camera, and then you'll be able to get in there and make some really meaningful photos.
If you're applying for a BFA program, I think that the professors would be impressed that you worked on a particular subject over a period of time, and really got to know your subject. And, supplementing that one story with a few other types of photos (some colour shots, maybe a few still life photos, even a video etc) will show that you're not just a one-trick pony. It seems that nowadays you have to be diversified to survive!
Good luck, and let us know how things are coming along....