This powerpoint presentation will help you develop a critical eye for critqueing photos.

1. How to
Develop a
Critical Eye
By: Quinn Colquhoun

2. Critiquing
3 Basic Questions to ask: What is good
about it? What is not good? How could it
be better?
 A 4th question that could be asked is
where do you start?
 This is usually done in groups
 Critiquing can be both negative and
positive comments
 Fact: It’s harder to critique your own work
because you’re closer to it.

3. Style
 It’s
a “stylistic theme that connects all the
images of a photographers work
together”, its “interpretation, mood
personal matter”.

4. Standards
 It is skill, factual not opinionated.
 It includes 4 things:
 Value
 Clarity
 Composition
 Presentation

5. Value
 Value is the range of light from black to
gray to white.
 The more contrast the longer you have to
develop and “greater visual impact”.
 It is good to look for contrast though there
are exceptions, for example if its all the
same color then there is no interest in the
photo. Having shades and defining
shapes are good elements to have.
 Grays: clear grays are good, muddy grays
aren’t so good.

6. Value
 A question to ask yourself would be “How
could it be better?”
 To think about: if it looks muddy then there is
not enough light exposure, if it has highlights
then there is too much light exposure.
 To get more contrast you can leave it in the
developer longer, if you leave it in shorter
then it will be too low and look weak.

7. Clarity
 Clarity is the correct focus.
 There are two major kinds of focus:
 Sharp Focus
 Soft focus
 Sharp Focus- clearly defined, “less
distracting”, accentuates.
 Soft Focus- edges blurred, though it can
“obscure blemishes and enhance the mood,
make it dreamy”.
 Questions to ask: What’s in focus? What
should be in focus? What’s not in focus? Why
not?

8. Clarity
 The Focal Point should be the center of interest.
 The shutter speed and “degree of contrast
between the subject and background” will affect
the clarity as well. Same with the light, value, and
line of composition.
 Depth of field- range of distance that will be in
focus at any time, it decreases when aperture
increases.
 After you focus you shouldn’t move.
Also, “camera shake” is very common when your
focus is very low, to keep it from happening use a
tripod or something that will keep your hand and
camera steady.

9. Presentation
 Presentation is “how clean it is”.
 If there are white specks such as
glitches, scuzz, etc…, fingerprints, scratch
es, and/or dark circles(from poor
agitation) then its not clean.
 What is clean is if there are neatly
trimmed edges, squared corners, and
“proper adhesion to the mat board”.

10. Composition
 Point if interest:
 Is there one?
 Does it stand out?
 The photo should have “a single dominant element” that
should be near the middle.
 Cropping:
 The way it is framed.
 Is it tight?
 Filled or wasted space?
 “Negative space or blank areas can enhance a photo if
it interacts with the central image”.
 Balance: top heavy, lopsided or boring?
 Two ways:
 Static- just sits there, weight the composition near center.
 Dynamic- movement, weighing composition away from
the middle, in the corners.

11. Composition
 Lines:
 “Can “pull” or “point” viewers eye towards or
away from the point of interest.
 Increasing or decreasing the photos drama.
 There should be “Visual Tension”.

12. Aesthetics
 “Style”- “elusive something that makes the
difference between a skillful photograph and
genuine art.
 Photos will have all the elements but they
work together and other photos will be
missing some of the elements and it will work
very well.
 It’s like “magic”.
 A photo having something or not having
something.

13. Practice: (This Photo is from
the Developing a Critical Eye
Chapter in a book)

14. This photo was taken by Joe
Pellicone, Called “On The
Waters Edge”

15. This Photo is by Rudy Pollak

16. Website for the Photo’s
 http://www.ppgny.org/photos-members-
can-upload-imag/scenics/

17. THE END