[emf]

I think these look very interesting. I think you have some really strong pieces and others that are fine, but not as strong, I would take the ones that are only ok out.
Also there are some pieces which are similar and again, really good next to ok, alongside one another, for example, ‘oceans’ is very nice, but immediately after is ‘looming’ which is very similar in composition, scale and subject matter, but not as strong (IMO). Your work is good, make decisions and have confidence in the strongest pieces to stand alone, omitting the ones that aren’t AS strong.

‘Fly’ is great!

[emf]

Picstop, that bit about getting her hands on a 15 year old??? WTH?

And then she goes on to say,

“I am here to boost everyones self confidence- Make you remember who you used to be before those stretchmarks marked their new terrotiory, who you were before your boobs met your knees, remind you that you are still that beautiful person behind those wrinkles or dark circles-”

Seriously? To acknowledge all of those things isn’t going to boost a woman’s self confidence, it’s going to make her want to hide under a rock!!

[emf]

I’d say go for it. If you know what you want to study then switch. I did fine art at uni, and yes it wasn’t the most lucrative, business-wise thing I could have done, but learning about the history and context of a subject you love and developing your own personal style and creativity is never ever a waste of time. I’d say study something you love and do the business studies on the side.

I got interested in photography later and have studied in my own time in evening classes etc. I got as far as level 3 which is A Level here in the UK, the step before uni. However my A Level course was quite a disappointment as we didn’t learn anything to do with skills, not even what an aperture was! It was all based on the fine art side, which you think I’d like as that was my background but you have to get sufficient knowledge of the basics first of.
My point is, check with a fine tooth comb the content of the course, make sure any course you are interested in teaches the technical side of this subject too. It may well be that a vocational course in the subject, such as a BTEC if you’re in the UK, would be of more use to you than a degree. research whats on offer. Good luck!

[emf]

You’ve had some great advice so far. One thing I just wanted to comment on is that I really like the one of the woman holding the mirror in front of her face, this is really simple but very effective and I’d be tempted to work a little project just around that idea.

[emf]

Nesgran – I’ve been dreaming about a show like that! Come on Channel 4!! But who is the photographer version of Gordon Ramsay?

[emf]

Ahh here is the answer! It’s what you said eyedoc!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-31659395

[emf]

i only see white and gold.

[emf]

#25062

picstop
Subscriber

I love how “a moment in time…” states on the website… “We are conveniently located near you”. Really? Unless you can drive at the speed of light, I think area code 318 and 905 cannot be considered “near you”.

LOL, that made me laugh too – I’m across the pond so they’re certainly not near me! Maybe they take the expression ‘global village’ a bit too literally! 🙂

[emf]

On the pecan and pinecone images. I specifically wanted to incorporate “nature” shots with the portraits BECAUSE I so heavily incorporate shots of nature in my shots of families. Does that make sense? I actually do take those kinds of images and include them with family portraits. Whether or not clients want that is basically where I think folks would or wouldn’t choose me as a photog. Anyway, think I should still keep them? I liked the colors, the “Feel” of nature…etc. I’m divided myself on them.

I personally think there should be more of a link between the nature shots and the portraits, I don’t know how, but if there was a clearer connection between your nature close-ups and the family/kid portraits, I think this would work well, like say, a straw doll a kid (you) made for example. Also, if you want to do it, have more interspersed between your images and from earlier on; at the moment there are only 2 near the end and the fact that they didn’t appear before and there’s only a couple, make them appear somewhat random and a little disjointed in the series.

[emf]

Like here for example,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dgterryphoto/16557217395/

She is smiling but her smile and facial muscles seem tense, like she is smiling because she’s been asked to rather than because she genuinely smiling. Also, her eyebrows seem raised slightly and her eyes seem to have a hint of suspicion in them – but now you explain a little about her, it comes across more as self consciousness and worry.

Here,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dgterryphoto/16557219325/in/photostream/

her expression seems very unhappy, which may have been intentional, but I read it more as she is uncomfortable in front of the camera. Her shoulders seem high and and tense, so does her hand and arm.

I am stumbling my way through posing and getting genuinely good expressions too; actually it sounds so dumb but the realisation that these things are so important, slapped me in the face during a disaster shoot where I realised I had NO idea about them what-so-ever!. It didn’t even occur to me; I spent so much time thinking about technical details and composition but none about posing and expression. Here is the thread, I had some great advice and it may be help you too.

Getting people to relax in front of the camera.

I think developing the way you work with your sitters/models involves a lot if trail and error and psychology too – working out what the they will respond to best, it will vary from person to person. A lady I particularly like is Ana Brandt, not especially for her photos but more the ease and friendly way she directs her clients. Here’s a short link of hers,

I don’t find the portaits over processed, the one thing I notice though there are some colour inconsistencies between them and as a series it’s good to have more unified colour palette that runs throughout, linking them as a series, some are quite cool in colour temperature while others are much warmer.

like here is cooler, https://www.flickr.com/photos/dgterryphoto/16557219325/in/photostream/

but here is much warmer, https://www.flickr.com/photos/dgterryphoto/16555534191/in/photostream/

Good luck!

[emf]

I agree with Don about the posing. Also her expression seems a bit uneasy. Learning how to pose and also get the subject to relax is something I have struggled with too so I can’t advice much sorry! But I think these are areas that you especially need to focus on. There have already been good links posted. Another thing is I would suggest is watch your backgrounds as the woodland is a nice setting but in a couple the branches cut right through your subject, such as here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dgterryphoto/16369546328/

You have a pretty model and the images are well executed so with some reading up and practice on posing and eliciting good expressions, you will have stronger portraits.

[emf]

People who suck at something, have no business telling someone else the “right” way to do it.

It would be kind of like me, who can barely draw a stick figure, walking up to a painter at any level and telling them the right way to paint a picture. Don’t tell other people the “right” way to do something if you have zero experience and no talent at it yourself. People who do that are just pretending to be something they are not and I freaking can’t stand people like that. So yeah, you can fuck off too, you pretentious shit.

But you would be able to tell if a painting was badly done, or if you went into a restaurant and had a bad meal, you’d know, you wouldn’t have to be a chef yourself. This place is made up of professionals and amateurs alike (I’m in the latter). The connection between people here is that we all love photography, so even if some of us still have a long way to go, people can still recognise things that work and don’t work in images we see. It can sting but there’s no need to get defensive, people are trying to help you improve.

[emf]

#24755
Don
Don
Subscriber

I think it’s funny he has a separate section for Asians.

LOL – WTH???

[emf]

I agree, for only 16 I think you’re doing great – keep learning!

[emf]

He’s not a troll, he just doesn’t take critique well and is lashing out I think.

[Author]

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