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I: A Glimpse Into The Class
I: A Glimpse Into The Class
Ah, yes. So many creative souls who framed their interests and love into their lens. I probably scanned about 15-18 portfolios, and I didn't had the time to take note exactly who, but shots from several classmates personally stood out to me— Tan, Ortega, Viaña, and Vicente. Their shots really made an impression on me because right when you look at the photo, you exactly know what the photographer wants you to see and feel, and to me, that's a huge green flag!
By Sophia Hillary Tan
By Rodseb Joshua Ortega
By Sophia Gabrielle Viaña
By Bettina Mari Vicente
Surely, upon checking many portfolios, I can't help but notice that mostly everyone else already knew how to incorporate the elements of design into their craft, like colors, shapes, lines, and pattern. I must say that most students have a really keen eye on emphasizing their subjects. Some were also invested in symmetrical shots and it was nice to see that!
There were also some classmates that had a massive amount of photos into their portfolio (and I am soooo jealous!) Their shots really showed that they have years of experience in the field of photography, and their outputs are really close to what I would always see on my feed when a celebrity gets married and posts their wedding ceremony photos. It's really giving the vibe of high quality and of course, expensive yet super worth it rates.
On the other hand, I do think that there are some students who might need a little bit of improvement, but even if the shots were lacking multiple techniques, you could definitely tell that they have a big potential. There was no portfolio that dissatisfied me because even if the shot were poorly taken, I could still feel the message that they were trying to convey, and all it takes is for one to have a good eye and an understanding mind.
II: The Art of Critique
II: The Art of Critique
Nothing beats a good nature shot! But the photo captured by Villacorte can be quite confusing to the audience because there's a lot going on in the frame: there's cropped branches, and there are nipa huts seen at the bottom part. The lower part of the image is overpowering the main subject that Villacorte initially framed which is the volcano. But he incorporated well the element of lines because you can tell that the frame still wanted to highlight the shape of the volcano.
In order for this shot to be improved, the distracting braches must be cropped out of the way. It can follow the basic rule of thirds as well so that the volcano doesn't sit in an awkward position because right now, you can't really tell if it's supposed to be sitting in the middle or not. A little color grading would work as well, especially by lessening the strong hints of blue that are seen on the houses below as they are quite distracting for the viewer.
I am obsessed with this photo! I love flowers, and I love the color pink, but something bothered me, and probably the way it was cropped. Though, I like the subtle hint of the sunlight that showcased a sense of diagonal composition, and the crispness of the photo is so nice!
If I would retake this photo, I would probably figure out a way to redirect the sunlight so that it meets the middle of the flower, and that I wouldn't crop the sides. A square crop would probably be best as well. Simple yet elegant.
You can truly never go wrong with sunset photos, and the way this was captured was actually nice. The contrast makes the background really pop, shifting the focus from the boats to the beautiful blend of orange and blue hues. The use of color is magnificent, so natural yet so captivating.
However, the only thing that bothered me was that there was a motion blur-like effect seen on the lower part of the frame, not sure if that was intentional but if a viewer pays close attention, that might throw them off. There is also an unnecessary amount of negative space on the upper part, though it's not as distracting as the motion blur, I think the sunset might've had more impact if it was more centered there while following the rule of thirds.
This is fascinating to look at, and the way that the blue ocean and sky compliments with the beige base of the building is such a nice touch. The photographer surely utilized the power of lines, as it created that illusion, and the S-like shape on the ocean from the boat is an incredible feature that made the photo more interesting.
Although, I personally think that this can be improved. The color grading of this photo made it seem so muted and gloomy, making the quality of the photo less reputable. The pink on the balconies could be highlighted more by bringing more highlights into the frame, and by intensifying the shadows. The building seemed as though it was never lit on by sunlight, and it made the photo appear very flat and dull.
As someone from Pasay City, this mall is obviously familiar and it is true that it is a nice place to take photos, because the architecture is so classy, and neat looking. The photographer definitely captured that in this frame, and the way that the colors just pop is so cool! I could definitely feel the mall vibes, just from judging this picture.
However, this shot could still be improved with making sure that it is aligned and straight. I could notice that the middle isn't really symmetrical, and it might have been an honest mistake, but this photo really looked like it could thrive on symmetry and deep contrasts, since the white sky is overpowering the deep browns of the exteriors.
III: A Look Within
III: A Look Within
Well... thank God that there is still so much to learn!
Well... thank God that there is still so much to learn!
Looking back at my classmates' portfolios, some of them made me feel inspired and motivated because I realized that there is still so much to learn about photography! I entered this course with only a little amount of confidence in my craft, and flipping through every portfolios sure did humble me more, but in a good way. It makes me excited for the weeks to come because I've always been passionate with this field, and I love challenging myself so that I can get better.
I must admit that my experiences with DSLR camera, and post-editing gained me a little bit of advantage because I am already familiar with the terminologies, but at the same time, it also cleared way for more improvement and learning space. I really enjoy learning, and knowing that I still have a long journey ahead is comforting because, it serves as an assurance that I can still improve with the way I see the world through my lens.
For me to continually improve with my photography work, I believe that I should learn how to utilize the settings on my DSLR camera more. Instead of just being lazy and switching it into a built-in mode, I should opt for the manual setting more, as I can have more say in how I want the shots to look, therefore giving me more creative freedom. I should also learn to step outside my comfort zone as I usually get anxious about taking pictures of strangers, or even taking pictures outside (haha social anxiety gang). Anyway, I am just very much grateful that I still have more lessons to go, and surely I want to use that as an opportunity to capture photos that are out of the ordinary, one that truly reeks the essense of my soul.
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