Photography Interview

[adam*]

Hey,
I finally have a response from the admissions tutor since the last post that I made.

"You would need to bring a portfolio of photographic work which reflects your
interests and shows the kind of work that you feel passionate about. This
could include narrative, and should include many pictures of your chosen
subject rather than one final image. It is always good to see a students
involvement in their work and therefore contact sheets are useful".

Just wondering if anybody could help. I'm not exactly too sure what a 'contact sheet' is, I presume that it's to do with experience as an assistant or so forth?! Also what would you interpret 'chosen subject' as because I dont particularly have one style and would have though that my portfolio would just demonstrate the best pictures I have, with my influences and interests being very broad and not restricted to one photographic field..

Any help would be much appreciated,
Cheers,
Adam

[Jon]

"Contact sheets"are what we used to use with "film". Basically, you spread out the negatives across a sheet of printing paper, press them flat with a glass plate, and expose them to the light.Then develop, and you've got a thumbnail directory of your shots. You can then select which photos to print up later. It shows the reviewers how you worked through the subject.

They'd rather see you concentrate (for your submission) on a limited area rather than show them a range of travel, fashion,nature, landscape, wildlife, portraiture,wedding and still-life photos so they can assess your personal style. If you can show a consistent style across several areas, thaen they'd probably like to see that, but if your work has no cohesion, they won't want to see that.

[adam*]

Cheers for the advice.

I've never had any experience in developing my own pictures so the whole contact sheet thing is new to me!

What exactly would you describe 'style' as though. Would it be common techniques in which photographs look like they have been taken by the same person? As I have only seriously taken photographs over the last 7/8 months I wouldn't say that I have my own person style as of yet, and I have a very wide range of photographs- most of them being landscapes and still life. The reason i'm wanting to take a degree in photography is to develop on my interest and it will also give me the ability to use things which I wouldn't normally get the chance to.

[Jon]

Yes, "style" is what makes the photos yours, not knock-offs of someone else. If you mostly shoot landscapes and still-lifes, go through those looking for the ones you (and your friends/family) like most. Then try to see if there's any common thread running through them.

[adam*]

Ok, cheers for the advice. I'll try and have a look through them today. Suppose I'm going to have to get all my chosen pictures printed the same size. Only problem is money- I am a student in debt after all!

[Wazza]

Good to see you posting the question. Sorry I couldn't help you, but it's a great thing to do something you have a passion about.. Photography, just like myself.

Time to leave that History degree of yours ;)

[adam*]

Hey warren, i'm reading your response whilst I should be doing my history reading- says it all really!

[liza]

You can make a "contact sheet" in Photoshop. Not sure which version you use, but in Elements 3 you go to Organizer, select the photos you want while depressing the Control key, and clicking on Print.