How to critique photography from a design perspective. How do you know if your photos are good? Find out here. An updated version of this presentation is now available: http://www.slideshare.net/mhielema/how-tocritique2011

1. Take
Better
Pictures
3

2. Critiquing Photography
from a design perspective

3. Critique using 3 values
+Emotional
+Artistic
+Technical

4. Emotional
This is when we view
an image for the first
time and express our
reaction.

5. Emotional
Note your impression
and explain WHY

6. Emotional

7. If I like it, why?
If not, why not?

8. Does it arouse
an emotion, a
mood, tell a
story, remind
me of my past,
my dreams, my
present?

9. This image
makes me
feel . . .

10. This image
reminds me
of . . .

11. You seem
to have
captured . . .

12. I am trying to
grasp the
mood, the
subject, the
focal point, . . .

13. I want to feel
more . . .

14. What did you
see that made
you click the
shutter?

15. For a stronger
impact I
would . . .

16. The mood
might be more
impacted
with . . .

17. Artistic
Is the concept
unique, creative?

18. Artistic
Is the composition
and subject
placement pleasing
to the eye?

19. Artistic
Is the subject of
interest obvious?

20. Artistic
Is there anything in
the image that does
not add to its
impact?

21. Artistic
Does the
perspective work?

22. Artistic
Are lines aligned/not
aligned creatively
(horizons for
example) or are they
mere distractions?

23. Artistic

24. The
composition
might be more
compelling if . . .

25. My eye wants
to . . .

26. If the subject
were moved a
little to the . . .
it might
create . . .

27. If the subject
were moved
closer . . . or
further away . . .

28. The angle of
the subject
might be
better . . .

29. The
foreground
feels
distracting
to . . .

30. The
background
seems to . . .

31. For stronger
impact, I would
crop . . .

32. Technical
Is the photo in
focus or meant to
be blurry?

33. Technical
Does the overall
exposure work?

34. Technical
Is Photoshop overly
used (colours,
sharpness,
contrast,
brightness)?

35. Technical

36. Is the blur
intentional?

37. The image is
too dark, too
light, too
muddy,
which . . .

38. I would change/
add . . .

39. The highlights/
shadows are . . .

40. The
background is
blurry which . . .

41. The
background
needs to be
blurry which . . .

42. The exposure
feels . . . what
did you use for
exposure?
In camera
metering or . . .
Next time I
would suggest . .

43. A worthy critique
remains friendly,
thoughtful, positive,
considerate, and
always honest.

44. Practice critiquing the
following images, as
well as your own.

45. Use the visual language
you have just learned.

46. Emotional+Artistic+Technical

47. Emotional+Artistic+Technical

48. Emotional+Artistic+Technical

49. Emotional+Artistic+Technical

50. Emotional+Artistic+Technical

51. Emotional+Artistic+Technical

52. Emotional+Artistic+Technical

53. Emotional+Artistic+Technical

54. +Emotional
+Artistic
+Technical

55. +Emotional
+Artistic
+Technical

56. +Emotional
+Artistic
+Technical

57. +Emotional
+Artistic
+Technical

58. +Emotional
+Artistic
+Technical

59. +Emotional
+Artistic
+Technical

60. +Emotional
+Artistic
+Technical

61. A worthy critique
remains friendly,
thoughtful, positive,
considerate, and
always honest.

62. Offer some depth into
the why, along with
added suggestions or
recommendations.

63. Valuable critiquing utilizes
proper etiquette for the
purpose of enhancing
and expanding a
photographer’s skill from
an objective point of view.

64. About Marlene Hielema
Marlene Hielema is a photographer
and educator in Calgary, Alberta.
She teaches photography at SAIT,
and ACAD, plus she designs and
delivers seminars on the practical
uses of photography in corporate
communications.

65. All images
© Marlene Hielema
www.imagemaven.com