Group Crit

I can't remember the last group crit I attended... probably before it became a sign up choice! Looking back perhaps I should have taken advantage of the sessions, especially with them not being used much I could have had longer to talk and ask for help. However I signed up for todays session as I'm starting to panic with the amount of time we have left. After yesterday finding potential images to round off the project I wanted to see what everyone else thought about them. I also had questions about the portfolio and exhibition. 

With the images that I presented James S (which he has mentioned before) that I need to consider the background when taking portraits. I tend to photograph them with a square cutting in the back of them or a line in between. This is distracting and something I tend to forget a lot!  There was also some minor things that I can adjust in Photoshop - certain objects causing distraction and the highlights. I was aiming to work close up with my portraits but there was one or two where the closeness draws you in to the line crossing in the background. If I want to include it I need to set myself further back including more of the set so that it isn't so distracting. 

As for my portfolio I mentioned that I have decided on a box and the only one I've found of reasonable price is black. I asked what other options I had and how I could de-boss. One of the students advised me to call Hartnack&Co which is the company I previously looked at for a clamshell box and mention that I am a student and what they can do for me and apparently I could get myself 10% off. Also if I'm having trouble with de-bossing because of the price I can get a brass name plate done at Jarrolds. I did also think about using a wooden box, and James said that it was fine to use a box which I will do a bit more research on without losing any more time. 

With my portfolio I'm worried I don't have enough to show. Stupidly during year 1 and 2 the majority of my images were shot on JPEG. But I'm not sure whether they would be worthy to put into my portfolio anyway as my work now is completely different to what I was doing previously. However James said JPEGs would be fine as long as they haven't been retouched, so I will go back and check if there is any with potential. Also at the minute I'm scrapping 15 images without my current project. I asked for the minimum amount of images for the portfolio and he said around 20, however 16 would be enough if the images are of outstanding quality (which they are not) so it looks like I need to work quickly and get up to 20 at least but I would like to hit the 30 mark. 

I need to start bringing in test prints to the tutors and get help with sequencing and what images to put into the portfolio. I will definitely get a 1:1 booked for Tuesday as I was too late to book a 1:1 with Ross on the Monday. 

We then spoke about the exhibition. I'm probably worrying more than I should be about this! But I've only ever done an exhibition which is framed and hung on a wall by a nail. I'm worried that I've missed something out or whether I need to be ordering anything now. Originally I had planned to have an A0 print on photo rag paper hung by Foamex or MDF. BUT James said about a student who in the past presented their print by hanging the print roll on a baton with the image pulled down. This sounded really interesting and different. This has certainly changed my mind and think this would work better with my portrait of my nan if it gets accepted. With the delicacy and personal feel to the image and project that its from it would have a massive effect on it. I also think it would stand out from everyone else's being different and 10ft long. I really hope I get this sorted and my image that I've chosen is ok as I think it would look great! To do this, I need to speak to Sarah at Guntons. I should probably email her within the next week to start getting some planning in. 

Today was really helpful and I'm so glad I went in. Feeling slightly more confident about everything so hopefully deadline won't be too much of a rush after all!