Submit your photos to the NY Times' Lens Blog for a chance at a portfolio review!

[steveniphoto]

wait you actually have to be in NYC dont you... dammit.

 

[Dunn]

I really would like to try this as I hope one day to work as a photojournalist, I just always feel my photos are never strong enough or fit a project.

As I'm still fairly young and just starting to take this seriously I feel I have not been able to truly focus on a "project." I feel my photos are just more general.

Think I could still give it a shot?

 

[FrankS]

It's free so what have you got to lose?

 

[Damaso]

I really would like to try this as I hope one day to work as a photojournalist, I just always feel my photos are never strong enough or fit a project.

As I'm still fairly young and just starting to take this seriously I feel I have not been able to truly focus on a "project." I feel my photos are just more general.

Think I could still give it a shot?

You could but perhaps you should keep focusing on improving your work. I think they want to see cohesive bodies of work and it sounds like you're still getting there, which is fine. Keep on shooting and maybe you will feel confident enough to submit next year?

 

[jonasv]

I read a blog comment about finding photos from another blog owner. He said that when he’s looking for a photo to use for his blog, he just searched the image topic in google images and then takes whatever he find’s interesting. No photo credit or use paid.

I think this procedure is very common with web-use photos. As someone who earns a living with photos I think I can safely say, that once a photo is on the web in any form – it’s out of the owners/creators control. People will take credit for your work, they will alter it slightly and copyright it as their own – and try to sell it, etc. All the things you think might happen to your photo will happen over time. If you value your work and have hopes of publishing your work off the web, I suggest you think before you upload. Once it’s in the wild, it’s up for grabs. If you do web publish, keep the files small. Watermarks are easily removed but I haven’t seen anyone double the size of an image and retain file quality – yet.

My 2 cents

Copyright infringements are really common.

I think showing your work online in 2013 means you've got a lot to lose...
Then again, in 2013, I think you've got more to lose by not showing your work online though! (especially as a beginning photographer)

That said, keeping files small is smart advice.

 

[sanmich]

Thanks Damaso,
I'll give it a shot.
The people you are in contact with sound like decent folks.
Maybe you could tell them about the legal mumbo-jumbo that is keeping photographers from participating?

 

[Haigh]

Thanks for that one Damaso. Congrats on being succsessful yourself.

 

[Damaso]

Thanks for that one Damaso. Congrats on being succsessful yourself.

You're welcome! And thanks!

 

[KM-25]

Heck, I shoot about one assignment a month for the NYT, just finishing an FTP upload right now and I would love to have a portfolio review, think honest critiques are great. I never pass up at the chance to get down and dirty with industry folks about my work, I think it has helped a lot over the years...

Of course be crystal clear on their TOS and contact them just to make sure what it all is, but honestly, their Lens Blog is a hell of a good voice for real photography, not many like it left really..

 

[sanmich]

Done

Thinking of it, since photography is not putting bread on my table, and being an incredibly famous and respected photographer among my kids, I would love to see my pictures stolen by the NYT 😀

Seriously, I may be naive, but it seems legit (they clearly state that the images won't be used for anything else...)

Who's in?

Thanks again Damaso!

 

[jsrockit]

Well, the people in this thread who actually work in the industry seem fine with it... it seems like a good chance if one is serious.

 

[FalseDigital]

I'm assuming you can't submit if you're not in NYC, is this correct?

 

[Damaso]

I'm assuming you can't submit if you're not in NYC, is this correct?

You have to come to NYC for the portfolio review if you're selected. Good excuse for a trip to NYC I think...😀

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Well if they like your stuff they might feature it on the Lens Blog or publish it in the paper. If you haven't reached that level of success it could be interesting..

My first thought is: their filter is photojournalism, is it not? Or, instead of me going down that rabbit hole, I should ask: what kind of portfolios are they looking to review? Sending a tape of Pavarotti to American Idol may bomb, but it wouldn't mean he couldn't sing. Or would it?

 

[jsrockit]

The Lens blog doesn't only show photo journalism. It shows all types of photography with a heavy slant towards PJ.

 

[Damaso]

The Lens blog doesn't only show photo journalism. It shows all types of photography with a heavy slant towards PJ.

This is correct. And for the portfolio review I think it's safe to say that they are interested in photojournalism and narrative photography...

 

[snausages]

Thank you for the heads up, Damaso. Seems like a great opportunity to meet dedicated, thoughtful photographers/editors.

 

[Damaso]

Thank you for the heads up, Damaso. Seems like a great opportunity to meet dedicated, thoughtful photographers/editors.

There are definitely some people on the list of reviewers I'd like to meet...

 

[animalhairs]

Yes, excellent post/information. Thank you.

 

[Damaso]

Yes, excellent post/information. Thank you.

You're welcome!