LensCulture: Submission Review

We photographers don’t often get genuine feedback on our work. Some measure how good their work is (or worse: how good they themselves are) by the number of followers, likes, views, or comments they receive on social media, but I know better than that. In almost all cases, popularity on social media has nothing to do with the quality of the photographer or his or her work. It mainly reflects how active that photographer is on those platforms. After all, the algorithm pushes active users to the top, and actively engaging with others’ work leads to comments on one’s own work. Aside from that, comments like “wow” and “that’s so cool”—even on photos where I wonder if the commenters are actually serious—are pretty superficial.

One of the benefits of entering a photo contest is that you sometimes have the opportunity to receive feedback on your submission. Since I specifically want substantive feedback to help me continue to grow, I was happy to take advantage of this opportunity offered by LensCulture. I submitted the series below, which has won me several awards:

I didn't win any awards at LensCulture, but I did come away with some very valuable insights that I'll definitely keep in mind during my next visit to Romania, at the end of September this year, and put into practice if possible.

If you're interested in reading a sample of the jury's feedback (submission review), you'll find the feedback I received below.

“PortfolioFeedback

Hello, Ilona—

. When I look at your images, I feel as though I’m being offered a lens that can capture moments across time. Your photographs bear almost no reference to modern life, yet reflect the color and aesthetics of modern photography. The compositions are very strong, and your command of technique is excellent. In short, it’s a strong series of images.

Part of the strength of your compositions lies in your use of light and color. It’s clear that you have studied painting and have an excellent command of technique. Each photograph demonstrates an excellent use of natural light and exposure, as well as an awareness of how color temperature and careful processing can elevate an image to greatness. Your attention to detail is remarkable.

I have a few suggestions for you to consider.

One thing you might explore is rearranging the sequence of your presentation. Right now, you’ve grouped certain aspects of the work together. For example, the two images of couples are presented one after the other. Instead, I would separate them within the sequence. And for that matter, it would be great to see more images that include more than one person. You are very good at finding interesting dynamics in body language that elevate your images to such high levels of intrigue.

Images 4 and 5 both show someone sitting in the light coming from the doorway. Images 6, 7, and 8 all feature women working by the light from the window. Images 6 and 7 both show women sewing. In images 6 through 8, the person is sitting facing the same direction. Hopefully you get my point. The idea is to try to break up the visual language so that the transition from one image to the next reflects change. That’s not to say that sometimes it can be helpful to have certain formal elements tie one photograph to the next; for example, it could be interesting to have the blues in image 5 immediately followed by the blues in image 7.

I also wondered whether you took any photos outdoors? I understand that the project is about traditional Romanian homes. But you could still include a photograph of people standing or working in front of their homes, in the barn, etc. 

You might also consider varying the distance between the subject and the camera. Right now, most of the photographs are taken from the same distance. Perhaps there are slight variations. But getting closer and taking a half-body shot or a “headshot” could be interesting.

I also wonder if you’ve taken any close-up shots: photographs of hands, photographs of memorabilia, etc.

Again, Ilona, you’re creating remarkable images. As you know, photographs like these are invaluable historical artifacts. They serve as a reminder to the world that not all of life is dominated by the fast-paced, digital madness that has become a hallmark of contemporary culture and life across the globe. And they serve as a record of this moment in time for future generations.

Thank you for sharing your work, and I wish you the best of luck.”

Do you have any feedback for me or thoughts on the review above? Leave them in the comments—I'd love to read them!