How to Critique a Photo

Kristen Pruett

To Start

•group together with other photographers

•during a critique session, or "crit", do not criticize, critique

•what to think about:o what is good about the photo?o what is not good?o how could it be better?

Evaluating a Print

There are four basic factors to determine a photographs standards:o valueo clarityo compositiono presentation

Value

• value concerns the light in a photograph

• range-from black through shades of gray to white

• contrast-the wider range between the photographs darkest and lightest elements

• the more contrast, the greater the visual impact will be

• photographs should have a range of grays to define shapes and provide shading

• however it is good to distinguish between good and bad grays

Improving Value

Think: How can it be better?

•the most common problem is incorrect exposure when taking a photo

•too little light >>> a dark, "muddy" print

•too much light >>> highlights will be "washed out"

•other aspects that affect contrast include: improper developing, slight amounts of leaking light, exhausted chemicals, etc.

Clarity

Think: what's in focus? what should be in focus?

•key to clarity=focus

•with sharp focus, all edges are very clearly defined

•with soft focus, the edges blur

•the center of interest, or what the photograph is about, should be be in focus

Clarity (cont.)

•clarity also depends on appropriate shutter speed

• if the shutter speed is too slow, the subject will be blurred

• if the shutter speed is too fast, it may reduce the photographs impact

Improving Clarity

• focusing is the most common problem-normally by failure to set correct distance on the focusing ring.

•depth of field=range of distance that will be in focus at any time

• trick---focus more carefully while using a large aperture, after focusing don't move forward or backward

• to control camera shake, try pressing the camera tight against your forehead and cheekbone, or hold your breath, or brace your body against a wall. if you can, do all three.

Presentation

•when critiquing, look for the care and skill with which the final print has been made

•how clean is it? Are there any white flecks, glitches, scuzz, etc?

•are there fingerprints on the negative or print or scratches and dark circles? This is caused by poor agitation when developing the film.

Composition

• is there a point of interest? A photograph should have one clear point of interest

•cropping-the way it is framed

•static balance- just sits there, but that can be effective

•dynamic balance-suggests movement

• lines and curves have an impact on the photo

Aesthetics

•we come to "style"

•often a photograph will have all the right elements but still not work

•sometimes a photograph will lack critically important elements, but work very well

Critiquing

Sample 1

Critiquing Sample 1• The value of this photograph is decent. There is white and

plenty of grays, but a minimal amount of black.

• The clarity of the picture is great. It is in sharp focus and not blurred.

• The presentation of the photo is good, however there is a horizontal line through the pants of the subject being photographed. However it is minimal and not distracting.

• The composition of this photograph adds an interesting element. I like the way the way the picture is cropped. It is a static balance, therefore the object is not in motion.

• Overall I enjoy this photograph. It contains many critically important elements and works altogether.

Critiquing

Sample 2

Critiquing

Sample 2• value: This photo has a good range of black, and some

white. It has a range of grays to define the shapes and provide shadowing and has a nice contrast.

• clarity- The photo is focused is the front, however the back of the landscape is blurred because of the foggy air. This element works with the photo.

• presentation- This photos presentation is great. There are no glitches or markings

• composition- This photograph doesn't appear to be cropped. It shows the whole picture with it's wide landscape. The point of interest is unclear because the photo focuses on a large scene.

Critiquing

Sample 3

Critiquing

Sample 3

• value- Part of this photograph is black and white, the other part is colored. This makes the photo very interesting.

• clarity- This picture is clear and focused. The edges are sharp.

• presentation- The final print came out great, with skill and care.

• composition- This shows statics balance. It is artfully cropped so that the point of interest is the bouquet of flowers.

• The woman and dress being black and white brings out the beautiful colors of the flower.

Sources

Sample 1- Chapter 4 Developing a Critical Eye

Sample 2- Jay Maiselhttp://www.jaymaisel.com/recent-work/#image-

1

Sample 3- H&H Photographershttp://www.handhphotographers.com/

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