The document provides guidance on photo critique questions to consider when evaluating photographs. It discusses examining what adds to the photo and what takes away. The subject should be clear without distractions. The message should be expressed clearly. Eye travel through the frame should be considered. Exposure, balance, focal length, focus, depth of field, and personal enjoyment of the photo are additional factors addressed. The conclusion recommends selecting the best 15 photos for a final portfolio and applying these critique elements.

1. S
Photo I Critique
Questions

2. What’s adding to the photo?
Decide on what you like about the photo, and think about how you can
improve on that. If the answer doesn’t come instantly, it’s probably not a
very good photo.
What’s taking away?
Whatever doesn’t add, takes away. Clean up your photo, because less is
more, and you don’t want to confuse your viewers.

3. Where/who/what is your subject?
Is it clear from your photo where/who/what your subject is? Do they receive
an appropriate amount of attention, or are there too many distractions?
Do you know what you want to express, and is the
message clear?
Is this more than just a pretty picture? When you look at the photo for the first
time, what do you feel? Are you feeling the feeling that you’re trying to
express?

4. How do your eyes travel through the
frame?
How we look at a photo is determined by the different
visual weights, and the paths created in the frame.
This works closely with the question above, because
you want to be able to manipulate the way your
viewers look at a photo, by fully understanding how
visual weight works, and using different weights to
influence them.

5. Is the photo correctly exposed?
The best way to check your exposure isn’t to look at your LCD display, but to look
at the histogram. This will tell you if your photo is too dark, or too bright in places.
When a pixel is true black, or a true white, you lose detail which can’t be
recovered, so make sure you watch out for this while you’re still taking the photos.
How is the balance?
Balance determines whether the photo is pleasing and harmonious to
look at, or rather uncomfortable and unresolved. Simply put, deciding
between balanced and unbalanced is the same as deciding between
tension and harmony, and each degree of choice has its different uses.
How do you want your photo to feel?

6. Would the photo look better through a
different focal length (change in distance
from subject)?
Focal length is an interesting one, because you may not quite
realise the effects of focal length, but it can completely
change the perspective of the photo, because it goes hand in
hand with your distance from the subject. Closer is often
better.

7. What about the focus and DoF? (Depth of Field)
One of the biggest mistakes that people see to make is
misunderstanding where they should be focusing in their photos,
and how much depth of field they need. If you’re shooting
landscapes, focus about a third of the way into the frame for
maximum depth of field, and if you’re shooting a person, focus on
their eyes. That’s if you want to play by the book – feel free to
experiment.

8. Do you like this photo?
Obvious, and simple, but valid all the same – your instinct
will give you the answer for this one. I typically take
photos until I have to stop, or I’m happy with the results
and don’t think I’ll get much better. If you’re happy, then
that’s all that matters really, because photography is
subjective, and if you can please number one, then
you’re doing alright.

9. Final Portfolio:
• 15 of your best photos (already taken or new)
• Completely Edited to final stages
• Uploaded to Final Portfolio Album
• Should follow individual style of editing
• Things to Consider:
• Critique questions above to read and understand for final critiques