Im going for a LRPS

[Messiah Khan]

Ive now joined the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) and ive resigned myself to getting a Licentiateship. At the moment im putting a panel together, and hopefully have it ready to submit by the end of the week. Has anyone else got any RPS distinctions? Ive posted on the RPS forums, but I would like opinions from you lot on how you think my panel flows.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

 

[Messiah Khan]

7.

8.

9.

10.

Im a little concerned about the transition from 7 to 8, but this is one of the few bridges I can find between my B&W work and colour work. Once the panel has been slected im most likely going to go back over the images and re-edit some of them to get them spot on. I'll probably also lose the borders. any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[ruralscotland]

Number 7 is stunning

 

[Brains]

I don't think you will have a problem with the content.....excellent shots. Have heard that it is the presentation of prints that lets most down.

 

[Brains]

On number 8 I find the stud a little distracting (being really picky here!)......and the white mark under his left eye.

 

[Dino f]

Going by what ive seen from the RPS before, you should breeze through, however, i personally would drop one macro shot for something different. Not saying that the macro stuff aint good, it's stunning. I would maybe throw in a landscape.
Just MHO though.
I really think your work is beyong the standard required for licenceship. Whatever you do, best of luck Alasdair.
Dean

 

[Messiah Khan]

Cheers guys. Just to confuse you all, scrap those pictures ive posted above as im going for a completely different angle for my LRPS. Ive had some feedback from RPS guys over on the RPS forums, and it has been suggested that I concentrate on my B&W/IR shots for the LRPS as they cover a wider range of subjects, and it also has the added bonus of keeping my insect macrography for a potential ARPS. So now im looking at the following images to use as my panel;

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

I will be re-editing all of the images before submission, so there will be minor tweaks ans changes (Such as the button on number 5). So how do you feel this one flows?

 

[PaulDCocker]

I'm sorry to confuse things, but as much as I love the 2nd set I preferred the first set, and apart from the multiple insects/macro's I thought they showed a greater range of image.

Also I would like to say it's a delight looking over your images.

 

[Messiah Khan]

I'm sorry to confuse things, but as much as I love the 2nd set I preferred the first set, and apart from the multiple insects/macro's I thought they showed a greater range of image.

Also I would like to say it's a delight looking over your images.

Cheers for the kind words . I know what you mean, but the worry is getting the images to flow well together, which is made very hard with such varying styles. I also think it would be better to keep the insect shots for an ARPS where you should choose a theme.

 

[pxl8]

I think you'll get the L no problem, great shots every one.

 

[ranarama]

I've seen LRPS panels from people in my camera club and you'll get it with the 2nd set no probs. I think you are right to stick with a theme or type of photography. I get the impression they like to see you prove yourself at a particular style rather than show off your versatility.

Some of the 1st set of shots I think you are right to hold back for possible ARPS as they are outstanding but again I think you need to stick to a particular type. You just need a few more like 3,5,6 & 7 if you want to do a macro theme. I wouldn't put 8 or 9 in as part of a panel with the previous shots and although 1 & 2 are good they don't really stand out.

Good luck, I'm planning to go for mine next year.

 

[richie]

Number 7 is just stunning mate would love to have that on my wall

Edit: all very good, great work.

 

[Hoodi]

The second set is good but the lone shoe & the last one are weak & mixing aspect ratios is really jarring.

On a more positive note I'd not seen the penultimate image & I really like it.

 

[BRASH]

All fantastic shots (both sets) but IMO the miner is fab. So much emotion in his expression.

 

[petemc]

The second set is good but the lone shoe & the last one are weak & mixing aspect ratios is really jarring.

Agreed. What does the bit o paper mean in reality? I've always felt portfolio > letters after name.

 

[Hoodi]

In fairness letters after your name seem to be pretty handy for picking up 9to5 work. It's circles though, because you need a good portfolio in order to get letters after your name (or at least ones which are worth a jot).

 

[Messiah Khan]

I think you'll get the L no problem, great shots every one.

Cheers.

I've seen LRPS panels from people in my camera club and you'll get it with the 2nd set no probs. I think you are right to stick with a theme or type of photography. I get the impression they like to see you prove yourself at a particular style rather than show off your versatility.

Some of the 1st set of shots I think you are right to hold back for possible ARPS as they are outstanding but again I think you need to stick to a particular type. You just need a few more like 3,5,6 & 7 if you want to do a macro theme. I wouldn't put 8 or 9 in as part of a panel with the previous shots and although 1 & 2 are good they don't really stand out.

Good luck, I'm planning to go for mine next year.

Thanks. Althought im trying to theme it to an extent in order to make the images flow well together, I still want to show a variety of styles and techniques. If I was to go for an ARPS I would most likely do a purely insect macrography panel rahter than including other shots as well. At least the ARPS should be themed. Im finding mixing my styles into a consitent panel very hard.

Number 7 is just stunning mate would love to have that on my wall

Edit: all very good, great work.

Thank you.

The second set is good but the lone shoe & the last one are weak & mixing aspect ratios is really jarring.

On a more positive note I'd not seen the penultimate image & I really like it.

Cheers Hoodi. When I re-edit the shots im going to try and be more strict with regards to the aspect ratios. Do you think the jumping from Landscape to Portrait is too bad. The problem is that other than the shots you see there, I haven't got very many other B&W shots that I feel confident with, so I havent got much to play with really. Im also finding it hard to transition between 5 and 7, and I felt number 6 worked quite well by joining 'people' and 'seascapes'. Do you think it really lets the rest of the panel down too much?

All fantastic shots (both sets) but IMO the miner is fab. So much emotion in his expression.

Thank you. You'll get sick of that image eventually, as im using it in pretty much every competition/challenge/portfolio possible.

Agreed. What does the bit o paper mean in reality? I've always felt portfolio > letters after name.

Quite possibly, but I really could do with it to strengthen my CV. Im mainly doing it in preparation for applying to Venture as a Digital Artist. Im quite pleased with how my CV is coming together now, but there is a distinct gap in terms of evidence of creativity.

I know its the portfolio that counts, and this is an area im also working on. (I really need to do more portrait photography with a view to practice and develop my portrait post processing skills) but I also need the CV to be as good as possible to get my foot in the door in the first place.

Additionally, I think doing things like this helps make me more critical of my own work, and its a fun little challenge.

 

[chuckles]

I don't think Venture would be very impressed with a dirty coal miner shot! Not their style at all!

Haven't got really much more to add to these very valid comments.

My experience of all this is similar to yours with the possible exception that I had the 'privilege' of being encouraged to go for some sort of accredited membership..... my conclusion, which is entirely my own opinion, there is a very high degree of pretentious activity within it's own highly opinionated ranks.

Incidentally, the person who was banging the drum for the RPS was herself a person who sat on their boards to approve licentiateship and associateship... Her work was (IMHO) c**p! I left that meeting completely disillusioned. Most of the members who post on these boards could do better....

 

[petemc]

Quite possibly, but I really could do with it to strengthen my CV. Im mainly doing it in preparation for applying to Venture as a Digital Artist. Im quite pleased with how my CV is coming together now, but there is a distinct gap in terms of evidence of creativity.

I think mrk got into Venture simply with a strong portfolio. I think if you can demonstrate you can take a good family photo in different styles with solid processing you'd be ok.

 

[Hoodi]

The transition of style is fine, but it's bloody hard to mix aspect ratios in a set & pull it off. At the moment it looks as though you've shot the miner shot then just sort of mangled it to a totally different composition. It looks as though it was probably a landscape shot which is now vertically taller. By a bit.
The issue is less that it makes the miner shot look weaker (although it does) and more that it implies extensive messing about with the other shots. They're all strong compositionally but have you just got a fancy shcmancy high resolution digital wotsit, shot a bunch of so-so shots then gone to town with fine tuning or even drastically altering the composition afterwards. It's just one big implication of weakness in your work.

I'm being overly harsh here, and this folio would probably get you in - but if you've got the free time to spend on it then work it all you can.

If you really can't bear to make the miner shot into a 3:2 then try adjusting the folio so you've got more than one square shot (and actually make the miner square). The 8th shot would make a strong square image. One totally different aspect ratio is jarring - anything more starts to look wholly intentional.

Also tidy up the aspect ratios of all the rest of the images. There's really no need for them all to be squiffy one side or the other of 3:2. I know you said you would but actually do it.

If I'm cropping an image I always lock the aspect ratio. Most software is happy enough to do this. Most will also let you lock the aspect ratio to something else entirely so that you can easily turn say a 3:2 image into a 1:1 image et cetera.

This all seems incredibly anal, but having a solitary strong image is one thing - having a set of strong images that flow and work well togethor is another entirely, and the aspect ratios thang is step one of how to not make them sit like crazy paving.

Just be thankful you're not printing them!

 

[Messiah Khan]

*Snip*

Yeah, I hear what you are saying, and ive come across this even in my local Photography club. but as I say, its a fun little challenge for me to do, and certainly won't do any harm in terms of strengthening my CV which is the main aim of this game.

I think mrk got into Venture simply with a strong portfolio. I think if you can demonstrate you can take a good family photo in different styles with solid processing you'd be ok.

I don't want to think that i'll be ok. I want to know that i'll be ok. The next few months will be spent really building up a good solid portfolio of venture style portraits to allow me to demonstrate my post processing skills. (Which is the bit I probably enjoy the most, and also the part I think im strongest on). But I want both the portfolio and the CV to be as strong as possible. From everything ive seen and heard, Venture seems to be the ideal company for the direction I would like to take in life, so im not wanting to waste my chances.

*Sniparoos*

Thanks for that very detailed breakdown. The weird aspect ratio ones were taken a while back before I got used to post processing, so this is something I try and avoid nowadays. The miner is admitably a slight bodge in terms of cropping. In the origional shot I had unfortunately chopped of the top of the helmet, so I tried to help balance it out with a tight crop on the right and bottom. He was also wearing a rucksack that was quite distracting. Anyway, thats all a moot point because I will sort that one out. (Will most likely go with a squarre crop and make others match). Again, thanks for your comments they are greatly appreciated and helpfull.

 

[Hoodi]

No worries Mr. Khan - it's strong work, get the most out of it

 

[JohnW]

Agreed. What does the bit o paper mean in reality? I've always felt portfolio > letters after name.

I was never asked - in 30+ years - about letters after my name or qualifications.

At the start it was a case of approaching potential customers with a portfolio. Then taking on any assignment they would give me. At first that was on a pay my own expenses and no guarantee they would buy the pics.
Then it changed to getting a cash deposit and payment on delivery with a bonus for any pics used.
Then it was contacting customers and saying that I have worked for x, y and z.
Then it was them phoning me.
Then it was being able to turn down jobs I didn't like.
All the way through it was a case of being as good as your last job.

 

[Phil T]

Mi MK - they are all stunning shot & worthy of the LRPS (only one I'm not too sure about is the horse - some judges might consider the angle wrong).
Also suggest you search this forum for some (less than complimentary) views on Venture including one forum member who helped set it up....
Just so you're making an informed decision.

 

[Messiah Khan]

Mi MK - they are all stunning shot & worthy of the LRPS (only one I'm not too sure about is the horse - some judges might consider the angle wrong).
Also suggest you search this forum for some (less than complimentary) views on Venture including one forum member who helped set it up....
Just so you're making an informed decision.

Cheers Phil. You couldn't point me in the direction of these posts about Venture could you? Ive had a search, but can't seem to find much about them other than them being very expensive (Which wouldn't really affect me if I was working for them).

 

[Deleted member 3428]

Whatever set you choice to show MK looking at them I'm sure you will be fine. I was looking at doing the same as you are back last year but, as to yet still haven't got round to it.

Anyway good luck in your quest

 

[Phil T]

Hi MK - here t'is - you may want to PM nigelcampbell for some insights...???
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=29893