Lens Culture Submission review
I’ve just received a free Submission Review by a LensCulture photographic expert.
The images are shown above, and this is the review:
Hi Nick, and thanks for taking the time in submitting your work with us!
I am happy to have the opportunity to review your submission and offer some thoughts and suggestions as to how you can take the work to the next level. It is important for a photographer to realise what works in the approach and what doesn't, and this is regardless if one works in a series on in singles.
One of the most important abilities a photographer can possess is to transcend the mundane into a distinct moment that offers something that departs the subject matter.
I enjoyed looking at your work and in regard to the question, it all comes down to the ability and "access" you have at the location. The images in themselves are interesting to look at showing me animal life as it unfolds. You pretty much concentrate on representing what you see and although that is fine there is a photo that I would like to use as the anchor to a different direction that would make the work stronger.
In the seventh image, you are using a much more dramatic light which takes things to another level that becomes both about being representational but also emotional with the latter being an important component that I feel you could incorporate in such work.
Taking a more passive and lyrical approach while using the landscape as a stage and blending the animals in it would be more effective. Think about narrative and even about the theater of nature and of ways that would take the subject matter and make it more intimate.
In all, I would suggest finding a way, if possible, considering the situation, to concentrate on moments that go beyond action moments as 8, 9 and 10.
Nothing, of course, is wrong with that but you want to be a little more elaborate and you are also doing something more interesting in image 3 and image 2 is a good example of using the frame to reflect on the environment and if you bring a stronger use of light, shadow, atmosphere, and mood, things will become a lot more intimate.
It was my pleasure reviewing your work and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.
What do you think? If you have a view, please feel free to add your comments below…
If you’d like to order a framed print of one of my wildlife photographs, please visit the Prints page.
If you’d like to book a lesson or order an online photography course, please visit my Lessons and Courses pages.