This document provides guidance on how to critique photographs by examining several key elements. It discusses evaluating the background, following the rule of thirds for composition, ensuring accurate color representation, making the photo unique and memorable, optimizing what is included or removed, clearly communicating the subject, telling a story, focusing on clarity, properly cropping, and assessing correct exposure. Critiquing these technical and creative aspects can help improve photographic skills.

1. How
to
Critique
a
photo
By:
Rachel
Ahlmeyer

2. What
is
in
the
background?
You
want
to
be
careful
with
what
is
in
the
background.
You
don’t
want
to
have
your
background
in
focus,
to
have
pixels
or
for
it
to
be
irrelevant.

3. Rule
of
thirds
You
always
want
to
follow
the
rule
of
thirds
when
taking
photographs.
You
want
to
try
and
get
something
in
each
section.
But
at
the
same
time
you
want
to
balance
out
the
photo
and
make
sure
the
image
isn’t
over
powering.

4. Color
Accuracy
When
taking
photographs
indoors
without
using
a
flash
you
need
something
to
balance
the
light
our
or
it
will
take
out
and
all
white
drawing
for
light

5. Is
the
photo
different
or
standout
A
common
photograph
is
taken
of
flowers,
sunsets
or
other
basic
photographs.
You
want
your
photograph
to
be
different,
unique
and
memorable.

6. What
is
added
or
taken
away
from
the
photo?
Is
the
photograph
something
you
could
have
done
something
better
or
different.
You
also
don’t
want
an
over
whelming
photo.
Less
is
more,
cluttered
takes
away
from
the
photo.

7. Do
you
know
what
the
subject
is?
Is
it
easy
to
know
or
see
what
your
subject
is,
can
you
look
at
the
photo
quickly
and
see
the
subject.
Is
your
eye
drawn
to
the
main
point
of
your
photo

8. Does
the
photograph
tell
a
story?
Does
the
photograph
tell
a
story?
Does
it
keep
you
interested
or
intrigued?

9. Clarity
Is
the
picture
or
subject
in
focus?
Do
you
need
a
sharp
or
soft
focus?
Soft
focus
is
when
the
lens
forms
the
images
to
be
blurry.
Sharp
focus
describes
the
elements
in
the
scene
at
the
best
quality.
You
want
a
smaller
aperture.

10. Cropping
Is
there
open
and
plain
unused
wasted
space?
Does
the
photo
need
to
be
cropped
or
should
you
zoom
out
more
on
the
photograph.

11.
Exposure
Is
the
picture
exposed
or
not?
If
your
photo
is
exposed
you
did
something
wrong,
how
can
you
do
something
differently
for
the
next
time?

12. Citations
• http://www.wikihow.com/Write-­‐a-­‐Photography-­‐
Critique
• http://www.silberstudios.tv/blog/2011/05/how-­‐to-­‐
critique-­‐photographs-­‐a-­‐key-­‐ayp-­‐club-­‐feature/
• http://www.gurushots.com/photo-­‐critique/
• http://www.photosig.com/go/main/help?
name=tutorial/t10