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|| SportsShooter.com: News Item: Posted 2005-07-20

Something to shoot for.
Several SportsShooter.com student members are in the running to win a Nikon D2X.

By Brad Mangin, SportsShooter.com

Photo by Max Bittle

March winner Max Bittle shows off his new Nikon Coolpix 5200 that he won in the Student Portfolio Contest sponsored by Nikon.

In the six months since we launched The SportsShooter.com Student Portfolio of the Year Contest sponsored by Nikon, this new section has quickly become one of my favorite areas to visit on our website.

This new section was designed to give our student-members quality feedback in two critical areas: Their daily shooting and their portfolios.

Based on feedback and reviews from the SportsShooter.com members, students who have participated in this new contest have had the opportunity to get honest, direct, and productive feedback about their images. (And the rest of us can read along and learn some things too.)

We're about half-way through the first year of the contest, and have five winners so far: Omar Vega from San Francisco State; Dustin Snipes from Eastern Washington University; Max Bittle from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale; Robert Caplin from Ohio University; and Alyssa Schukar from University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The monthly process starts off with the judging of a week's worth of work from each student entrant. Any member of SportsShooter.com can participate in the process by sharing their thoughts, and awarding a place. When it's all done, the top three finishers, and the member comments, are displayed in a public area where everyone can see, and learn from.

All monthly winners have received a goodie box from our friends at Nikon which includes a Nikon Coolpix 5200 Digital Camera.

We asked the winners to talk about their experiences with the contest thus far and what they have learned through their participation in the process.

Dustin Snipes, Eastern Washington University
Winner, February 2005

Photo by Dustin Snipes

Eastern Washington junior Jennifer Jolley sets her sights on another record breaking year in tennis.

I've gotten so much great advice from this site and the reviews that my portfolio is COMPLETELY changed. I think there are only a FEW pictures that were in my original portfolio that are still in my current portfolio.

A few pictures were actually just a frame or so late or early in my old portfolio and after the reviewers told me that, I looked back through my original files and found stronger pictures. I am still in contact with Chip Litherland about my portfolio and the changes I have made to it. He has been a big help to me.

I never really had the courage before to ask for a portfolio review from anyone, so winning this contest really gave me an opportunity to see what I was doing right and wrong. Even just entering was a good experience because I got feedback from all sorts of different shooters that I never would have been able to get without this contest. Even if you don't win that month, you're still getting a lot of great advice.

I read over my critiques about once a week to help soak up the advice that Chip and Jim McNnay have made to me. It really helps to go back over them and really think about what I am doing right and wrong so I can go out and make better pictures.

The most valuable bit of advice I received was "proper captions" and to not burry my best pictures. Also, it was really helpful knowing which picture was my best because now I can set a bar for myself (as Mr Litherland said in one of his reviews).

My favorite thing in the goodie box would have to be the Nikon Coolpix camera. Its great to not have to lug around my regular bodies all the time. It takes great pictures too. I also really like the Nikon aluminum case memory card holder, its so shiny!

Since the critiques my portfolio has been completely changed around. Ever since this contest I have had a new outlook on photography and how I approach it.

See Dustin's portfolio: http://www.sportsshooter.com/student_portfolio/student_portfolio_start.html?id=7

Max Bittle, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Winner, March 2005

Photo by Max Bittle with Nikon Coolpix 5200

When I first learned of the student contest I was absolutely thrilled. I would be matched up with my peers from all over the country in a fun and friendly competition. I would never in a million years have sent my portfolio to Brian Davies and asked him to critique it, but in winning the contest I was able to have someone who I tremendously respect critique my work.

I can't say enough about Jim McNay, he is giving so much back to this profession. Every time I have e-mailed him in the past with questions he has responded quickly with good advice. So, for him to take the time to critique every month is just wonderful for students.

I won this contest and now two highly regarded professionals are taking the time to look at my work, that's what so great about this profession. In baseball for example, a little leaguer can't just email Albert Pujols and ask for advice, but with SportsShooter.com and this contest students like myself can get feedback and suggestions from top notch professionals.

I remember feeling so crushed when my images got removed in January for having borders. Here I had anxiously awaited this student contest and my pictures were disqualified. But life goes on and I was glad to win two months later.

The most useful advice I received came in the final paragraphs of Davies' and McNay's reviews. Brian said, "You are light years ahead of where I was when I graduated college. I enjoy seeing your work." That was very inspiring. Brian is one of my favorite photographers. I have admired his work for quite some time now. I remember when I first started frequenting the site, I noticed that Brian's pictures looked different from everyone else's. I e-mailed him and ask him what his Photoshop techniques were. He replied and said that he shot film. I felt pretty dumb. I don't know why but I thought it was so cool that he was shooting film. With technology taking off the way it is, I just thought it was awesome that there was this guy still shooting film, especially after he won the SportsShooter.com 2003 Photographer of the Year Contest.

Jim told me, "It is through the stories and projects photographers do that they separate themselves from the pack." This is so true and I am following his advice on the current project I am working on.

My favorite item in the "goodie box" was most definitely the camera. It came as a total shock. I had figured the t-shirts, hats, and cardholder but a camera, now that's cool.

I have changed my portfolio a slight bit, but it isn't currently updated. The one that was critiqued wasn't up to date with the one that I had been sending out for internships, so I was actually a little embarrassed.

I don't shoot pictures to try and win contests, but the chance for a college student to win a $5,000 dollar camera (Nikon D2X) is something to shoot for.

See Max's portfolio: http://www.sportsshooter.com/student_portfolio/student_portfolio_start.html?id=8

Robert Caplin, Ohio University
Winner, April, 2005

Photo by Robert Caplin

Webetuck lineman, Mike Brinson, scales the steps of Rosco High School's football stadium in route to his bus after losing to the Rosco Blue Devil's in Rosco, NY.

What was the most valuable bit of advice I received? Essentially, I learned I need to make improvements in my shooting style. There were many constructive comments about my photos that helped me understand, even though an image may have one element of photography nailed (light, composition, moment, etc), I still have to bring all the elements together to really have an amazing image.

I especially enjoyed Mr. McNay's comments about how important our jobs as photojournalists are. He spoke about how some of my photos take the viewer where they normally wouldn't be, showing them things they normally wouldn't see. Those comments, even more than technical critique, helped me realize I need to show the viewer something different, something important, something unique.

Since the critique I have been looking through my viewfinder in a different light (no pun intended). I don't just look for the moment, light, composition, etc. I look for them all. I also look for what might make the viewer think a little harder about what they are seeing. I like to play with light and shadows, look for reflections, and just give a different view of the world because they looked at it through my lens.

What was my favorite item in the 'goodie box'? Well... I would have to say the hat. Ok, just kidding. Definitely the Coolpix! When I received the goodie box in the mail, I was very surprised. When I found a brand new point-and-shoot within that box I was astounded that Nikon would be so gracious to send me a new camera. THANK YOU NIKON for supporting this section!

Did I make any changes to my portfolio since I won? Honestly, since I had the critique, I've been so busy working at my internship and getting adjusted to New York City, I haven't really had the time to make any changes in the portfolio. I'm absolutely going to be updating my portfolio before my internship with The Times ends. I feel I've grown as a photographer and made some nice images since I created the portfolio; so an update is imminent.

Thanks again Sports Shooter and Nikon for creating a wonderful learning environment for students!

See Robert's portfolio: http://www.sportsshooter.com/student_portfolio/student_portfolio_start.html?id=9

Alyssa Schukar, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Winner, May 2005

Photo by Alyssa Schukar with Nikon Coolpix 5200

"At right, Mel Siedlecki of Cape Coral, Calif. passes by as I wait for a tardy mayoral candidate to show up at the Polish Village Festival in Toledo on Sunday, July 10," Alyssa Schukar.

Jim McNay and Scott Strazzante gave me some great advice in the portfolio review. I will keep a lot of their comments, both big and small, in mind as I try to improve on my book, but some of the most valuable advice I received was to keep working and developing every chance I get and every time I shoot.

I will be the first to admit that I still have a lot to learn about photography and photojournalism. In fact, at times I feel like I'm in a bit of limbo because I see other shooters producing great work but turn around and feel less than enthused about the pictures I'm making.

One of the things that stuck out to me about my review is that it's a process. No one can be great overnight, and that's definitely a good thing. Otherwise, there would be no point in trying. As I read through the review, I think, "OK. This picture works for now, but let's see how I can improve or expand on it."

Without a doubt, my favorite item in the goodie box was the Nikon Coolpix 5200. I've always wanted to have a point and shoot that I could take with me pretty much anywhere - the laundry mat, the grocery store, wherever - but I hadn't been able to afford one. Now my CoolPix and I are inseparable. I received the "goodie box" just a few days ago, but as I familiarize myself with the camera, I'm really impressed by its quality. Thanks, Nikon (and especially Mike Corrado).

Did I make any changes to my portfolio since I won? Yes, since I won, I have reworked my portfolio. Mr. Strazzante and Mr. McNay gave me some good tips on order and cropping for my portfolio as well as new directions to move. As I said about the advice I've received, I'm concentrating on taking the small steps to a better book.

A large amount of gratitude goes to the good folks at Sportsshooter.com and the members who take the time to leave valuable feedback on the students' week's work contest. Thank you for a great opportunity.

See Alyssa's portfolio: http://www.sportsshooter.com/student_portfolio/student_portfolio_start.html?id=10

Omar Vega, San Francisco State University
Winner, January 2005

Q: What was the most valuable bit of advice I received?
A: Don't procrastinate. Check grammar and spelling. Photography is subjective.

Q: What was my favorite item in the 'goodie box'?
A: EVERYTHING! The Nikon camera was amazing! I gave the prizes to my family and friends for everything they've done for me.

Q: Did you make any changes to my portfolio since I won?
A: Not yet. I will work on it a couple months before the annual portfolio competition.

See Omar's portfolio: http://www.sportsshooter.com/student_portfolio/student_portfolio_start.html?id=5