How to Critique a PhotoBy Nina Slowinski

Keep in MindCritiquing a photo should not only be about

critiquing the photo, but about critiquing the photographer as well. When critiquing a photo take everything into consideration also try to look at more than just one photo, to compare.

Also Don't Forget When judging a photo separate your likes from

your dislikes to judge each picture equally. Remember that the four main principles to

judge a photograph are value, clarity, composition, and presentation.

Value

● The range of light.

● Contrast - range between dark and

light elements.

Begin by looking at the light, check out the contrast. It may or may not be a huge

impact, but a subtle view may be the best.

Remember that contrast is not the only

thing that makes a photo good.

Clarity

● Focus

● Center of interest

● Depth of Field - distance between the farthest and

nearest object that appear to be sharp

in the photo

Clarity is based on correct focus. Focus can be either sharp or soft, it really depends on the mood the photographer

is trying to set. Also, with focus comes center of interest which is what

is trying to be shown. Do put the focus and

center of interest together, they affect each other greatly.

Presentation

● Final product This part is fairly

simple, perhaps the most. Look for scratches, dust,

anything that looks like it can be touched up. Be sure to point it out. Also, if this is the final then the edges should be straight.

Composition

● Point of interest - what stand out

● Frame

● Lines

Most photos contain one main element, this is the point of interest. Moving from there, make sure to

look at frame. Is the photo tightly cropped, is there

blank space? Both options work, depending on the image of course. Make sure there is balance.

Lines can also be a great impact watch for sharp

and curved ones.

Questions To bring value, clarity, presentation, and

composition together when critiquing photos there are three questions you should ask

yourself:1. What is good about this photo?

2. What is not good?And

3. What could be better?

Photo Critique Example 1 This black and white photo focuses mai lighting. The girls hair is the point of intamongst the black. The rest of the light

nly on the contrast of erest, it stands out is darker than her hair which allows justice to the center of interest. Though there are few, some scratches remainand could be touched up. The edges could also be straightened, it stands on a tilt. The focus is somewhere in between soft and sharp and should be clarified.

Photo Critique Example 2

This photo has a sharp focus that blurs out a bit at the edges. It is cropped tightly showing little empty space except. The contrast is very vibrant, it is a very upbeat

photo. There are scratches probably because it is a digital camera. What is bad is the the center or point of interest

makes me a bit lost. I can't tell if it is the light green pencil or the circle all the pencils points make. This should be

made clearer next time.

Photo Critique Example 3 This photographs center of

interest is the chess piece in front. There is depth of field between it

and the pieces in the back particularly the closet pawn.

Cropping is good with little blank space. There are no visible

scratches that I can see. Point of interest, lines, and clarity mess a

little in this one though. The focus is very sharp in the front but

makes a bit confused in the way back. The lines are a bit squished

together making it stand out. Next time it should the

photographer consider removing the person from the photo.

THE END