How  to  Critique  a  photo  

By:  Rachel  Ahlmeyer  

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.    

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.    

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  

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.    

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.    

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  

Does  the  photograph  tell  a  story?      

Does  the  photograph  tell  a  story?  Does  it  keep  

you  interested  or  intrigued?    

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.    

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.    

 

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?  

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