How to Judge and Critique Photos
- 1). Take a good long look at the photograph. Make notes of anything you notice and want to mention.
- 2). Explain your interpretation of the photograph. Say what message you believe the photographer is trying to say with this photograph or what story is being told.
- 3). Express the emotions that the photograph made you feel. If you felt a sudden rush of anger, then say it.
- 4). Note any technical issues with the photograph. The main subject should be in clear focus, colors shouldn't be over saturated and any unintentional motion blur should be criticized. Look for any issues with the lighting, contrast and exposure, too.
- 5). Separate which technical issues were accidental and which were intended to create a desired effect. Technical issues are the only time there is a right and wrong in photography, but be careful not to mistake a technical error for an artistic choice. For example an out of focus background may be poor photography or it could be intended to make the subject of the shot stand out more.
- 6). Talk about the photographer's choices and what you made of them. Perhaps the picture is cluttered with objects or the photo is cropped so tightly that an object has been cut off that could have enhanced the picture. Decide what worked and what didn't.
- 7). Express any views on the photograph as your opinion and not as right or wrong when dealing with the photographer's choices rather than technical errors. Don't talk about the rules of photography as these are more like guidelines; the best photographers will break these rules to capture a great image. Remember, what one person likes about a photograph another person may hate.
- 8). Explain how you would improve any issues that you criticized. For example, if you found that the subject did not stand out enough, then you may suggest removing some unnecessary objects that are making the picture too busy or take out one particularly distracting feature.
- 9). Condense all of the points you have been making into a summary to finish. These last words are the ones that people will remember the most so make sure they represent what you really thought of the photograph. Whether you liked the photograph or disliked it should be made clear now.
Source...