During the 2023-2024 school year, I decided to take the AP Photography course as a freshman who was also taking AP World. Was this the greatest idea? No. However, I got a 4 on my AP World exam and a 5 on my AP Photo portfolio, so I suppose I am good enough in both areas to help another student out.
Now, here are all the things that I believe helped me get a 5.
Now, here are all the things that I believe helped me get a 5.
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First, I would say that having a strong editing background is VERY important. Prior to taking this course, I took Digital Imaging which definitely helped me feel comfortable using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom which are essential to AP Photo. It is also important to know and understand the Elements of Art and Principles of Design as they should be reflected in everything you take.
Secondly, play around with different topics to explore through your portfolio. Find something you are passionate about and really hammer into it. I did a gazillion and one mind maps, watched a bunch of movies (mainly WAVES, All The Bright Places, and To The Bone), and read quite a bit of books and mapped out everything that spoke to me. One of the first things I did was create a vision board using everything that came to me. |
My vision board helped me piece together all of my thoughts and allowed me to figure out what I wanted to capture.
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I believe that a key step in this phase is to do a philosophy development worksheet which helps you find your purpose in your art. Then, create an artist statement to help guide you through the beginning stages of my portfolio.
My Artist Statement: As a Chicago-based artist, I seek to create work that is meaningful and bold. I focus primarily on digital art that has an abstract style. My ultimate vision is to create something intriguing, but also visually stunning. In each piece that I have created, I have sought to create a deeper meaning, while also pushing the boundaries of art.
Researching then becomes an essential factor in finalizing the foundation of your portfolio. I continued to go online and look at other portfolios and write down everything that spoke to me and concepts that I would like to try.
Now, the most important part of your portfolio is your COMMENTARY. Without your commentary being stellar, you're literally going to fail. I'm so serious. In these 600 words, you need to maximize your impact, talk about your WHY and your WHAT. What led you to create all of these images, why you do it? It is also essential that you mention elements of art or principles of design in your commentary so that the graders know that you know what you're talking about and doing.
My Artist Statement: As a Chicago-based artist, I seek to create work that is meaningful and bold. I focus primarily on digital art that has an abstract style. My ultimate vision is to create something intriguing, but also visually stunning. In each piece that I have created, I have sought to create a deeper meaning, while also pushing the boundaries of art.
Researching then becomes an essential factor in finalizing the foundation of your portfolio. I continued to go online and look at other portfolios and write down everything that spoke to me and concepts that I would like to try.
Now, the most important part of your portfolio is your COMMENTARY. Without your commentary being stellar, you're literally going to fail. I'm so serious. In these 600 words, you need to maximize your impact, talk about your WHY and your WHAT. What led you to create all of these images, why you do it? It is also essential that you mention elements of art or principles of design in your commentary so that the graders know that you know what you're talking about and doing.
Next, play around with photography and really have fun. Just take random pictures and focus on something each time like editing, composition, or style. This will allow you to figure out what works best, how to improve, and allow you to try out new methods. Don't be afraid to reshoot certain images. Ultimately, you should and it will allow you to grow.
Here are a few of my first attempts and corrections:
Here are a few of my first attempts and corrections:
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In this, you can see noticeable changes within editing and style. As you continue to play around
with every picture you take, you learn what works well.
with every picture you take, you learn what works well.
The critical part of your portfolio is to have shots that are challenging and not only tell your sustain investigation, but GUIDE it. Also, please be very strategic in the order of your images; it does matter.
My sustain investigation was the following:
With the constant trials brought by society and our minds, one can feel uncomfortable in their skin. Many people tend to dissociate as a result of the need to numb the pain that our mind brings upon us. Mental health can swallow the little pride and joy you may have left. While creating my portfolio, I captured my experiences of what it feels like to feel clouded and unable to express grief. Through my photos, I have intended to explore the depths of coping with trauma and capture the experiences of losing your spark while also using photography to show isolation and lack of emotion.
Furthermore, my commentary:
Works 1-2 build the idea of how it feels to be dissociated through bleak expressions. Works 3-5 create the journey of questioning oneself, losing your inner spark, and the lack of motivation through the use of shadows and emphasis on the color black. Works 6-9 are the continuation of the color black to show a lack of emotion and motivation while displaying the lack of control, suffocation, and silence in the cling wrap and blindfold as calls for help. Works 10-12 are built on loneliness and feeling clouded. Works 12-15 show a change in viewpoint and learning to be content after tragedy.
My sustain investigation was the following:
With the constant trials brought by society and our minds, one can feel uncomfortable in their skin. Many people tend to dissociate as a result of the need to numb the pain that our mind brings upon us. Mental health can swallow the little pride and joy you may have left. While creating my portfolio, I captured my experiences of what it feels like to feel clouded and unable to express grief. Through my photos, I have intended to explore the depths of coping with trauma and capture the experiences of losing your spark while also using photography to show isolation and lack of emotion.
Furthermore, my commentary:
Works 1-2 build the idea of how it feels to be dissociated through bleak expressions. Works 3-5 create the journey of questioning oneself, losing your inner spark, and the lack of motivation through the use of shadows and emphasis on the color black. Works 6-9 are the continuation of the color black to show a lack of emotion and motivation while displaying the lack of control, suffocation, and silence in the cling wrap and blindfold as calls for help. Works 10-12 are built on loneliness and feeling clouded. Works 12-15 show a change in viewpoint and learning to be content after tragedy.
And the final result of my 15 works…
The final step in your portfolio is creating your selected works! These 5 images should focus on showing your skills, experimenting with color, displaying technique, and show your depth as an artist. This was probably my favorite part overall. Please choose relly compelling images as this makes up 40% of your score.
Here are mine:
Here are mine:
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I hope that in this article I was able to help someone continue to grow as a photographer and that this motivated you to explore everything that the class has to offer! I thank Mr. Mitchell so much for pushing me as an artist and to allow me to take risks; you have truly changed my life and I thank you so much. I loved AP Photo so so so much, and it will forever hold a place in my heart!
