Students in Photography 3 regularly benefit from feedback on their work in class. Earlier this spring, students in the course also gained insight from professional photographers by participating in the ECU Portfolio Throwdown.
“Since Photography 3 is one of the culminating courses for the Photography minor at Meredith, I wanted the students to have an immersive and professional experience in photography as a fine art,” said Professor Shannon Johnstone, who teaches the course. “The ECU Portfolio ThrowDown is a great event for this. In addition to the reviews themselves, the ECU Portfolio Throwdown event also offered students free workshops and 15 different lectures by a variety of artists and educators.”
Students participated in one-on-one feedback sessions with gallery owners, curators, editors, educators, and artists. Johnstone notes that in the professional world, reviews can be quite expensive.
Johnstone said in her photo courses, a lot of time is spent “talking about critiquing and how to give and receive quality feedback, since it is a valuable commodity in the photo world.”
Kinley Copeland, ’26, said she appreciated the opportunity to build her professional network and sharpen her communication skills.
“It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way,” Copeland said. “I felt more confident sharing my work and engaging in critique beyond what I’m used to in the classroom.”
Sierra Lopez, ’27, said she learned ways to improve her style and her technical skills.
“This experience has taught me that developing my photography style takes time and persistence. It has built my confidence and emphasized the importance of patience and consistent practice in honing my skills,” Lopez said. “I plan to approach my work with intention, recognizing that progress is gradual while also striving for creative growth to refine my technique and artistic expression.”
In addition to the portfolio review sessions, students also participated in workshops and lectures.
Maya Ryba, ’26, who is building her own photography business, enjoyed the feedback process and the opportunity to learn from professionals.
“I enjoyed talking to all of my reviewers, and I gained lots of knowledgeable information on running a photography business, as well as on paying attention to detail,” Ryba said. “I enjoyed attending the various lectures and learning about all sorts of photography forms, both contemporary and alternative.”
Students in the course and Johnstone also appreciated the art department’s support of the Portfolio Throwdown experience.
“I really loved having an out-of-classroom experience to grow and learn,” said Katelin Craven, ’27. “I think there’s something really beneficial in a change of environment and understanding the way other artists practice their craft.”
The art department supported the trip “conceptually and logistically”.
“Having departmental support for this experience demonstrates the art department’s commitment to offering unique active and experiential learning for students,” Johnstone said.
Department Head Emily Howard said it was wonderful to hear positive feedback from art students about their experience.
“At Meredith, we pride ourselves on the ‘personal touch’, and this kind of active learning is exactly what makes our community so special,” Howard said. “It’s also a powerful confidence-builder for our students to see firsthand that they are just as prepared (if not more so) than those from larger schools.”
Melyssa Allen – News Director
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