Example AP Portfolios!!!
Some example portfolios from various other sites can be found here:
- AP Collegeboard website
- Advanced Art USA website
- Big group of AP Student Portfolios
- Mr. Cecil's example portfolios
PAST STUDENT EXAMPLES!!!
RINA KIM - Photo 2 - Score: 5
Breadth:
Concentration:
1. What is the central idea of your concentration?
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2. How does the work in your concentration demonstrate the exploration of your idea? You may refer to specific images as examples.
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2. How does the work in your concentration demonstrate the exploration of your idea? You may refer to specific images as examples.
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ALLEN SHIEH - Photo 2 - Score: 4
Breadth:
Concentration:
1. What is the central idea of your concentration?
Everyday in high school I hear friends complain about the difficulties of life because of their "flaws and imperfections". I didn't understand the severity of low self-esteem until my best friend turned to self-harm because of this. My images are all unified under the concept of depression through personal insecurities and are grouped by certain stages of this self-doubt mentality. I wanted to capture the general, underlying expression that propels how irrational high schoolers' actions can be.
2. How does the work in your concentration demonstrate the exploration of your idea? You may refer to specific images as examples.
In order to create meaningful yet interesting compositions, I paid attention to specific aesthetic details such as facial expressions and makeup, color tone, locations, props, and outfits in each scene I created. However, I want to focus on a few factors that influence my concentration the most. First, I wanted my model to be in a positive environment which would make others happy but would conversely make my subject feel disturbed. Specifically in #2,8, and 9, her environments of confetti, flowers, tennis balls, and water balloons are assumed to be thing that would make teens happy; however, my talent turns them into negative stimuli. Also, because eye contact and sharpness is key in portraiture, I decided to vary the amount of eye contact my subject makes with the viewer. In #4,5,8,9,10, and 12, she conceals parts of her face and eyes so that there is a loss of human connection between her audience and herself––the same loss of connection that she portrays to feel in the first place. Another key aspect I focused on is the reality of grief, a long process of sadness. In order to mimic depression, I decided to create a few series of multiple scenes grounded around one situation to show different stages of my talent's depression. For example, #1 and 4 belong to one series, whereas #9 and 12 belong to its own series and so on.
Everyday in high school I hear friends complain about the difficulties of life because of their "flaws and imperfections". I didn't understand the severity of low self-esteem until my best friend turned to self-harm because of this. My images are all unified under the concept of depression through personal insecurities and are grouped by certain stages of this self-doubt mentality. I wanted to capture the general, underlying expression that propels how irrational high schoolers' actions can be.
2. How does the work in your concentration demonstrate the exploration of your idea? You may refer to specific images as examples.
In order to create meaningful yet interesting compositions, I paid attention to specific aesthetic details such as facial expressions and makeup, color tone, locations, props, and outfits in each scene I created. However, I want to focus on a few factors that influence my concentration the most. First, I wanted my model to be in a positive environment which would make others happy but would conversely make my subject feel disturbed. Specifically in #2,8, and 9, her environments of confetti, flowers, tennis balls, and water balloons are assumed to be thing that would make teens happy; however, my talent turns them into negative stimuli. Also, because eye contact and sharpness is key in portraiture, I decided to vary the amount of eye contact my subject makes with the viewer. In #4,5,8,9,10, and 12, she conceals parts of her face and eyes so that there is a loss of human connection between her audience and herself––the same loss of connection that she portrays to feel in the first place. Another key aspect I focused on is the reality of grief, a long process of sadness. In order to mimic depression, I decided to create a few series of multiple scenes grounded around one situation to show different stages of my talent's depression. For example, #1 and 4 belong to one series, whereas #9 and 12 belong to its own series and so on.
KIRPA SINGH - Photo 2 - Score: 5
Breadth:
Concentration:
1. What is the central idea of your concentration?
The theme of my concentration is surrealism. Many of my photos include images of unrealistic situations, which can be seen in the blurring of objects and people and through varying uses of photo shop to elicit an eerie feeling. Certain photos involved such scenes whereas other photos concentrated on the fear aspect of my theme.
2. How does the work in your concentration demonstrate the exploration of your idea? You may refer to specific images as examples.
My photos were somewhat split in their central ideas, meaning certain photos were actual scenes where an odd or surreal occurrence is present, while other focus on fear and the emotions people experience when faced with such situations. For example, image #1 shows a girl sitting on her porch in a state of fear as she is all alone and senses that something strange or unusual is occurring around her (the shadow in the background). Being oblivious to one's surroundings makes such occasions all the more frightful. For her, she understands that their is something mysterious going on, but she does not quite know what, and is thereby in absolute fear, as seen in her expression and hand placement. As stated earlier, my other photos involve photo shop or long exposure to display a strange and surreal situation. This can be seen in many of my photos, including image #10. This is a photo of a ghost-like subject entering through a doorway. This image ties in my theme of surrealism and unfeasible situation. In image #3, I show a girl looking through the doorway, fearfully anticipating something frightening to appear. Image #3 and image #10 are somewhat connected, as image 10 displays the unrealistic experience aspect of my theme and image 3 represents the fearful effect these situations are having on the people of my "story.
The theme of my concentration is surrealism. Many of my photos include images of unrealistic situations, which can be seen in the blurring of objects and people and through varying uses of photo shop to elicit an eerie feeling. Certain photos involved such scenes whereas other photos concentrated on the fear aspect of my theme.
2. How does the work in your concentration demonstrate the exploration of your idea? You may refer to specific images as examples.
My photos were somewhat split in their central ideas, meaning certain photos were actual scenes where an odd or surreal occurrence is present, while other focus on fear and the emotions people experience when faced with such situations. For example, image #1 shows a girl sitting on her porch in a state of fear as she is all alone and senses that something strange or unusual is occurring around her (the shadow in the background). Being oblivious to one's surroundings makes such occasions all the more frightful. For her, she understands that their is something mysterious going on, but she does not quite know what, and is thereby in absolute fear, as seen in her expression and hand placement. As stated earlier, my other photos involve photo shop or long exposure to display a strange and surreal situation. This can be seen in many of my photos, including image #10. This is a photo of a ghost-like subject entering through a doorway. This image ties in my theme of surrealism and unfeasible situation. In image #3, I show a girl looking through the doorway, fearfully anticipating something frightening to appear. Image #3 and image #10 are somewhat connected, as image 10 displays the unrealistic experience aspect of my theme and image 3 represents the fearful effect these situations are having on the people of my "story.
ALINA TANN - Photo 2 - Score: 4
Breadth:
Concentration:
1. What is the central idea of your concentration?
My concentration focuses on showing of human emotion through props and color. Artists use color to convey themes, and I explored this concept. Balloons have a happy connotation tied to them, but by placing them in unconventional environments with an interesting subject, their presence can alter an image’s tone. It is important to be able to view subjects in different perspectives rather than limiting them by imposing generalizations. We should look at the world with an open mind without bias.
2. How does the work in your concentration demonstrate the exploration of your idea? You may refer to specific images as examples.
Props create a new layer of depth to an image because viewers associate them to their own personal experiences, which create a unique experience for each viewer. Typically, balloons are present at exuberant events and celebrations, but the balloons that reside in each of the twelve images are arranged in an unconventional style, a constructed reality. The lone subject amidst the haphazard of balloons extricates bewilderment from the viewer, as exemplified in images 7 and 8 where balloons are displayed in a bizarre scenario. Colors are special in the way that they suggest a deeper meaning than the simple hues we see. Each color seems to contain universally understood implications. The colors of the balloons correspond to a certain emotion or association that is being portrayed within the concentration while each collection of images express an ongoing narrative about the subject and the phases in her life. Each installment of the series enhances the subject’s storyline. The array of white balloons in Image 1 exhibit pureness and innocence. Red represents anger and passion, while purple illustrates royalty and power. The aforementioned idea of innocence is preserved throughout the entire story as the subject is ultimately surrounded by black balloons which implying death and mystery.
My concentration focuses on showing of human emotion through props and color. Artists use color to convey themes, and I explored this concept. Balloons have a happy connotation tied to them, but by placing them in unconventional environments with an interesting subject, their presence can alter an image’s tone. It is important to be able to view subjects in different perspectives rather than limiting them by imposing generalizations. We should look at the world with an open mind without bias.
2. How does the work in your concentration demonstrate the exploration of your idea? You may refer to specific images as examples.
Props create a new layer of depth to an image because viewers associate them to their own personal experiences, which create a unique experience for each viewer. Typically, balloons are present at exuberant events and celebrations, but the balloons that reside in each of the twelve images are arranged in an unconventional style, a constructed reality. The lone subject amidst the haphazard of balloons extricates bewilderment from the viewer, as exemplified in images 7 and 8 where balloons are displayed in a bizarre scenario. Colors are special in the way that they suggest a deeper meaning than the simple hues we see. Each color seems to contain universally understood implications. The colors of the balloons correspond to a certain emotion or association that is being portrayed within the concentration while each collection of images express an ongoing narrative about the subject and the phases in her life. Each installment of the series enhances the subject’s storyline. The array of white balloons in Image 1 exhibit pureness and innocence. Red represents anger and passion, while purple illustrates royalty and power. The aforementioned idea of innocence is preserved throughout the entire story as the subject is ultimately surrounded by black balloons which implying death and mystery.