Lesson 1 • Critique

1. Critiquing Photography
Unit 5 The Photographer

2. Learning Goals
Today, I will…
• Have knowledge and understanding of art
critiquing
• Be able to construct a photography critique
using key terms and proper formatting

3. What is an art critique?
An art (photography) critique
should aim to help the artist
improve their work and gain a
better understanding
art/photography.

4. What is an art critique?
Should aim to be…
• Constructive
• Objective
• Focus on 3 key elements;
1. Technical qualities
2. Composition
3. Emotional appeal

5. Technical Qualities
• FOCUS: Is the image sharp, in focus? If not, is it intentionally soft and
successful?
• CLEANLINESS: Is it free of scratches, dust spots, stains, lens flare, etc?
• EXPOSURE: Is it too light, too dark or just right? Are there overexposed
(blown/washed out) or underexposed areas?
• DEPTH OF FIELD: Is DoF used to control the viewer’s eye?
• LIGHTING: Is there too much contrast in the lighting? Too flat (no range in
shadows or highlights)? Or, just right?
• COLOURS: Does it have neutral colours or a strange colour cast?

6. Composition
• BALANCE: Is the image aligned correctly or is it crooked?
• LOGIC: Is the arrangement of the visual elements (subjects and objects)
effective?
• PURPOSE: Is there a strong centre of interest, focal point, pattern or
design? Where is your eye drawn to?
• CLARITY OF FRAMING: Is it simple, yet complete and without distracting
elements? What should and shouldn’t be in the frame?
– Think of S.EX

7. Emotional Appeal
• DYNAMIC: Does it grab and keep your attention? Does it have the "wow" factor?
• PROVOCATIVE: Does it excite your imagination, or create a strong emotion in you?
• CREATIVE: Does it show a familiar subject in a new, unusual and yet effective way?
• UNUSUAL: Does it show a very unusual subject in an effective way?
• What emotion do you feel when you look at the photo? Or lack of?
• Did the photographer connect with his subjects or do they look tense, posed or unnatural?
• Does the photograph tell a story, or part of one?
– It could be as simple as, “here are my kids whom I adore” or “here’s my dog catching a Frisbee.”
– Or a very deep one such as, “the affects of war on the citizens of Vietnam, or Syria”

12. CN Tower
SARGENTO! (2015)

16. ‘Damnation’ • Ariel Cabrera Foix
August 28, 2012. [Santiago, Chile]
A young student is trapped by a riot policeman
amid student demonstrations surrounded by
clouds of tear gas, once the clashes started at
some points of the march. Students are
continuously protesting asking for a change [in]
the Chilean educational system.

17. Marilyn Monroe
Richard Avedon (1957 )