Can you guys critique my website/portfolio of my large format photography work?

[manfrominternet]

Hello friends,

I'm considering applying to an MFA photography program this upcoming fall, but am not sure if my works are good or strong enough, so I would like to defer to you experienced experts to see where you think I stand. The great majority of the work was made with my Linhof Technikardan 45S, however, a few were shot with my Pentax 67II and Fuji GW690III. Here's the link to my website:

kristianwolfe.com

Any suggestions, comments, and/or critiques would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks for your time and taking a look!

-Kris

[xkaes]

Kris,
I'm sure you will get more suggestions than you ever expected -- and more than you can digest. You will also probably get suggestions that tell you to do the exact opposite of someone else's suggestion.
I assume you are putting together a portfolio as a requirement for admission? At UCLA?
The first thing that comes to mind for me is that I'd like more photos with more foreground. A nice background contrasted with a large/dramatic "something" in the foreground makes both stand out. For example, a large pine tree in the foreground and a canyon in the background. A dilapidated car in front of a large factory. Etc.
And add people, or body parts, to some pictures -- any way you can -- especially in the foreground.
Wide angle lenses can help.
Keep in touch and best of luck

[manfrominternet]

Kris,
I'm sure you will get more suggestions than you ever expected -- and more than you can digest. You will also probably get suggestions that tell you to do the exact opposite of someone else's suggestion.
I assume you are putting together a portfolio as a requirement for admission? At UCLA?
The first thing that comes to mind for me is that I'd like more photos with more foreground. A nice background contrasted with a large/dramatic "something" in the foreground makes both stand out. For example, a large pine tree in the foreground and a canyon in the background. A dilapidated car in front of a large factory. Etc.
And add people, or body parts, to some pictures -- any way you can -- especially in the foreground.
Wide angle lenses can help.
Keep in touch and best of luck

Thank you kindly for your advice! Indeed, I'm planning on applying to the photography/art MFA programs at UCLA, Yale, Stanford, RISD, University of Chicago, and CalArts. While I'm aware of it, I haven't considered the importance of the foreground/background divide. I do also think I need to add more people to my work, but I'm painfully shy (hence there are barely any people in my work). I'll certainly heed your advice and keep all that in mind going forward!

[xkaes]

I do also think I need to add more people to my work, but I'm painfully shy (hence there are barely any people in my work). I'll certainly heed your advice and keep all that in mind going forward!

Lots of photographers did quite well without ever having people in their photos -- and I don't mean just portraiture. But it's a good idea to have experience with people in your photos -- and I don't mean just portraiture.

But being shy can actually be an advantage for you. Being a student -- who needs subjects -- you have the perfect excuse to ask anyone for help -- just as you asked us! Just ask ANYONE if you can take their portrait -- NOT "picture". Just tell them you need practice, and that they are a GREAT subject. MOST people are flattered when they are told this -- and most agree to help. It's a WIN-WIN.

And, believe me, you will probably meet some very nice people, make some friends, and become less shy -- a WIN-WIN-WIN!!!

And -- keep this in mind -- I suspect the admission team will want to see some "people" work!!! Don't make every picture the same. They will want to see what you can do with a variety of subjects. Add some close-up shots -- bowls of fruit, flowers, insects, nature, animals, high grain, soft-focus, a little bit of everything -- AND SOME B&W. They will want to see your ability and flexibility -- that translates into creativity.

[manfrominternet]

Lots of photographers did quite well without ever having people in their photos -- and I don't mean just portraiture. But it's a good idea to have experience with people in your photos -- and I don't mean just portraiture.

But being shy can actually be an advantage for you. Being a student -- who needs subjects -- you have the perfect excuse to ask anyone for help -- just as you asked us! Just ask ANYONE if you can take their portrait -- NOT "picture". Just tell them you need practice, and that they are a GREAT subject. MOST people are flattered when they are told this -- and most agree to help. It's a WIN-WIN.

And, believe me, you will probably meet some very nice people, make some friends, and become less shy -- a WIN-WIN-WIN!!!

And -- keep this in mind -- I suspect the admission team will want to see some "people" work!!! Don't make every picture the same. They will want to see what you can do with a variety of subjects. Add some close-up shots -- bowls of fruit, flowers, insects, nature, animals, high grain, soft-focus, a little bit of everything -- AND SOME B&W. They will want to see your ability and flexibility -- that translates into creativity.

Many thanks for your encouragement! I haven't thought of photographing people the way you have described it, so I'm really glad that you mentioned basically how to do it word for word. I'll definitely push myself out of my comfort zone this year and photograph with much more variety.

[bmikiten]

Kris -

I'll offer a few comments based on what I used to tell students. First, you appear to have a stylistic approach that is specific and easy to see which differentiates you from other photographer's work that might also be presented. Exposure, focus and other technical skills are all good. I would suggest that you consider your vision or message. While many of the images are interesting, they are not all very unique. I'm a huge fan of buildings but unless there is something you are saying or showing something artistic, they are just snapshots of buildings. Again, we are all guilty of this. Look at your images and ask if there are strong graphic lines that you like and consider cropping or focussing on these. I'd agree that you should consider additional subject matter and add some close up work. Finally, be aware of "dead skies" which tend to hurt overall image balance. Ask yourself about your message. What do you see an what are you trying to show the viewer? Pick your top 10 and ask others to do the same and see how they compare.

Best of luck!

Brian

[manfrominternet]

Kris -

I'll offer a few comments based on what I used to tell students. First, you appear to have a stylistic approach that is specific and easy to see which differentiates you from other photographer's work that might also be presented. Exposure, focus and other technical skills are all good. I would suggest that you consider your vision or message. While many of the images are interesting, they are not all very unique. I'm a huge fan of buildings but unless there is something you are saying or showing something artistic, they are just snapshots of buildings. Again, we are all guilty of this. Look at your images and ask if there are strong graphic lines that you like and consider cropping or focussing on these. I'd agree that you should consider additional subject matter and add some close up work. Finally, be aware of "dead skies" which tend to hurt overall image balance. Ask yourself about your message. What do you see an what are you trying to show the viewer? Pick your top 10 and ask others to do the same and see how they compare.

Best of luck!

Brian

Hi Brian,

Many thanks for your great input! I appreciate the comment about the stylistic approach, which I really do hope does differentiate my work from other artists' work. I fully agree with your comment regarding photographing with a message or something truly artistic and how, otherwise, they're just snapshots. That's certainly good food for thought and I'll definitely keep that in mind going forward. I've been meaning to dip into portraiture, but as you can probably guess from my work, I'm painfully shy. I have no idea how to even ask people to be in my photographs. I feel like portrature is all the rage, and it's not something I'm against at all, but I suppose I can't find anything interesting in people that hasn't been done by someone else already. Nonetheless, it's something that I definitely need to work on for sure.

Many thanks again!

[lloyd]

I disagree with the comments so far. I think you have some very strong images. Go for it!

[manfrominternet]

I disagree with the comments so far. I think you have some very strong images. Go for it!

Thank you, kindly! I really, really appreciate your kind words! It's always nice to hear someone appreciative of your work.

[LabRat]

Nice stuff (and I recognize many of the locations), but the tough part now is editing and post-conceptionization... (What/why these images are together???) Besides that you did them, what would someone figure why their experience seeing them on a wall or book, what ties them together between experience and viewer's thought...

School will bring critical thought to sequence and concept, often based on trends in art thinking in art market and theories, and trend in/out, often based on past/present theories in art crit...

A whole other animal in difference between work, and what can be said about it...

Good work!!!

Steve K