A Very Basic Guide to Critiquing Images

[wulf]

Some more thoughts from me:

1. You don't have to give a full critique covering all possible points - no-one is paying you for your time . I often pick one aspect that strikes me most strongly or perhaps something I don't like balanced with something I do.

2. Follow the conversation. What has already been said about the shot? By the time the second or third person has said "Wow! Great colour!", there is probably not much more to add unless you notice a new slant (eg. "The colours are vivid but they seem to jostle for position and don't leave an overall impression of either warmth or cold").

3. What was the photographer trying to convey? Sometimes a grainy, out of focus, unexposed image is exactly what is needed to convey something like claustraphobia or despair. When posting a picture of your own for critique, it might help to say a bit more about how and why you took it (although sometimes a picture will be great a conveying a message different from what you intended).

Most important of all though is my conviction that you learn a lot more by offering your critique of other's work than by flooding the site with shots of your own. In the latter case, unless you actively take the comments on board, you are wasting other people's time. In the former, by disciplining yourself to find something constructive to say, you are building the skill to analyse your own photos and ideas and produce better work.

Wulf

[teinee]

This has been a very helpful post for me. I am extremely new to forums such as this, and I am not at all ready to critique anyone else's efforts, but this has helped me to look at two things..critiquing my own efforts and thinking about critiquing others further down the line. I have come away from this with a lot of information to go and relook at my pictures and to think about in the future when I have my camera in front of my face. One thing that was mentioned in a few of the posts that really got me thinking tho, was the 'participate more' aspect. This will really help me I believe, the more I participate with others, the more helpful feedback I will receive in return. Thanks, christine

[Thecorey]

After reading the weekly poll where about 7% of members survived have taken a formal education route in photography I felt there was an interesting correlation between the poll and this post on learning critique.

Critique provides a crucial function in most if not all traditional arts programs. All the arts class I took throughout high school into college, from painting, drawing, to photography and Photoshop required some form of critique. It could be a simple one on one with a professor to an entire weeklong secession with the entire class.

One major difference I see of critiques in an educational environment vs. sites like Flickr and on the web, is a lot of critiquing in web environment is focused heavily on the technical and on picture-by-picture basis without much knowledge of the presenters, their body of work, knowledge of their style, or their development over time.

In college most of the people I studied with were in the same degree program. We took many of the same classes and got to know each other’s work very well. We also got to know each others work over a variety of disciplines. Over time we knew if the work someone was presenting was up to their standards, not ours, and if they were pushing themselves. I remember on occasion being able to truthfully tell a peer that their work was sub-par because I know what they are capable of.

This is not to say critiquing the technical aspects of any medium isn’t necessary. I am a strong believer that a true artisan should be a true craftsman. My advice is to understand and use many of the great guidelines presented here, and to also factor in time. Allow time to get to know someone’s work. Look through their photos and see what they are submitting for critique. Try to understand their frame of reference and the message they are trying to convey. Get to know them beyond their photos.

I always take and learn much more from the advice of a peer then that of a stranger. Critique should always be about growth for both parties.

[wulf]

Some excellent points, Thecorey. If I see a picture and really don't like it, I will probably pass it by without comment; if it is from someone I know *and* I can put my finger on what I don't like, I may offer my thoughts, balanced by referring to other shots of theirs that cover similar subject matter but which I think are better.

Not only does it "sugar the pill" but it also allows that person to evaluate how much they respect my advice. If my favourite picture is one they are not keen on then they will probably want to take my comments with a pinch of salt.

I think it is also important to have your own portfolio of work available. That is why I normally contribute to the weekly assignments even though, as one of the moderators, my shot is excluded from the selection process. I think all the moderators set reasonably high standards which shows we are reasonably qualified to shortlist and select a few pictures to highlight on the DPS blog.

Wulf

[thenimirra]

thanks for this guide! I have also learned that looking at other's critiques teaches me about my own photography, but I as well have been hesitant to offer any critiques.

I'm still so new at this, I would hate to say the wrong thing.

[eternalhope]

Thanks Saralonde, I am just new to all this and your tips will be a great help. I was alerted to your stickie and keeping uploads to ONE image only after I had submitted my first Critique my shot thread....oops....I put on 2!! Thanks for the advice for my future threads.

[geotography]

Saralonde,

Thank you for this thorough, helpful piece of work. Later this afternoon, I am going to have it tatooed onto my arms.

Best Regards,

[»-(¯`PriNcEsSjj´¯)-»]

This is an old but great thread.
I will be viewing (mostly at first) and critiqueing based on the presentation and the mood. I am a newbie and totally clueless to give technical critique anyways. :P

[Sime]

***BUMP***

Folks - Make sure you read the first post of this thread, a very good guide based around critiquing.

Sime

[japicha]

Hi Saralonde,
Thank you for the pointers on correct procedure for posting to this section. I do neeed some help along the same lines. I have seen references on adding links to phot sharing sites like flckr, picasa, etc. I am afraid I am not very conversant with this proces and am wondering if you can help me achieve this. In Picasa, for instance, there is a provision to either add link or embed photo info. I tried it, but my post showed a lot of garbled text from the "link" Am I doing this correctly?
Thanks,
Alan