DIT and Dun Laoghaire

Burago

I've been studying photography for the last few months in a FETAC level II course. I've applied to the photography degrees in DIT and Dun Laoghaire. I have just over a month to get my work sorted out. I'm looking for any tips or suggestions from pupils past or present or anyone with experience of putting a successful portfolio together. I am basically wondering what sort of things are they looking for, should I go with a theme and carry it through all the pieces? Should it be as varied as possible. I also have some photoshop work which is pretty unreconisable as the original photo, it is worth submitting these also. Any hints or tips would be great appreciated.

I'm normaly pretty laid back but this is really starting to to me:D


Regards,

Burago:)

Blockey

I was just looking at dit's website for information on portfolios but theres nothing there. This is always the problem when going for interviews!
I've done 7 college interviews in the past 5 years now from all around europe and all i can say is bring any work you like and only work you can talk about in great detail.
dont pay much attention to portfolio limits, these are always broken and you dont want to end up going and see everyone else has a lot more work than you, its bad the way the dont stick to their own guides but its really off putting if you feel out of place as you walk in the door!
one other thing, it might be of help, a lot of photographers use a portfolio called the "pro presenter", which you can have your name embossed in, its quite expensive but its used by a lot of professionals, might look the biz!
hope all goes well for you whichever college you decide.

norma

Blockey, the portfolio guidelines for DIT are in their prospectus. The new booklets are available from the college at the moment.
I have to say I disagree completely about ignoring the maximum number of pieces required: better to have less images of better quality than a lot of poorer quality ones. Remember, like a footballer is only as good as his last game, you're only as good as your worst image.
As regards successful portfolios, I'm in first year in DIT. From chatting to classmates, everyone seems to have submitted very different types of portfolio. I wouldn't worry about what everyone else does: do what you do best, and submit that. That's my advice, FWIW.
Norma.

havok*

Only bring you best work. Don't put in "fillers" to pad it out or to meet the maximum Requirement.
Talk for as long as you can. Make sure you come across as enthusiastic about you art.

jade78

i did fine art in dit and applied for tons of other courses in dun laoghaire,the most important thing in applying for any art based course is notebooks. they need to follow the process you went through in your work, be it the research that you did or the improvements on your technique and ideas that you have.
i agree with the others about quality over quantity, remember they are seeing hundereds of portfolios a day and they get bored and tired so if they have to trudge through all of your "fillers" theyre going to dismiss you portfolio more easily.
have other people look through it before you go, a second opinion always helps.
with photography if your displaying your work in plastic display envelopes make sure that they are matt as the shine can sometimes take away from the image.
hope this helps.;)

fat slide

i agree with norma. having studied photography for three years, and seen much portfolio work, there are no hard and fast rules. some people put in narrative work, some only single images. be ready to discuss the shots you do inclued and even site some influences... good luck

ps. photography applications by and large don't require notebooks, though including them wouldn't be a demerit