Leighow
2nd of March 2002 (Sat), 19:47
I am a 3 rolls-a-year-while-on-vacation photographer. But I love to look at your galleries and photos. Here many of you invite me (via Pekka’s site!) to critique your photos,all in an effort to improve our skills.
But, I have no special training in evaluating my own photos, yet alone yours! That bothered me. So I flushed out the following few tips to help me better judge your photos.
CREATING BETTER PHOTOS
************************************
The simplest advice came from the New York Institute of Photography who ask you the photographer to:
STEP 1. Know your subject,
STEP 2. Focus attention on your subject., and
STEP 3. Simplify.
Their web site goes on to apply these three steps within a variety of photographic settings.
EVALUATING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS
****************************************
I will follow the Oregon Coast Photo Club's “Guide to Evaluating Photographs when you ask me to critique your photographs ! Their guide is included below. So, that's the plan. Brace yourself!
http://members.tripod.com/oregoncoastphotoclub/rules/jdgegude/evaluate.htm] A Guide to Evaluating Photographs[/url]
BASIC TECHNIQUE:
Is focus appropriate for the subject?
Is depth of field appropriate?
Is it exposed in a way that works for the image?
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
Are special techniques like multiple exposures, sandwiching, panning, or cross processing used effectively? If the image is digitally manipulated, is the manipulation done well?
COMPOSITION: Is the image balanced or unbalanced? Is the balance level appropriate? If there is a main center of interest, is it well placed in the frame? Are there distracting elements in the picture that could be eliminated? Are there too many unrelated elements? Too few elements? Does the composition make effective use of leading lines? Is depth used (or not used) to good advantage? Does the composition make use of repeating forms? Does the framing work? Mergers?
LIGHTING: Does it show off the subject well? Is the contrast level appropriate? Is there lighting that would work better for the subject? If the lighting is controlled, is it well controlled?
SUBJECT INTEREST: Does the subject have interesting connotations or associations? Color interest? Interesting textures? Interesting juxtapositions?
ORIGINALITY: Does the image show an original subject or an original approach to a standard subject? Is it anonymous, or does it show a visual signature or convey a personal vision?
STORY MOOD: Does the image effectively tell a story or convey a mood?
PRINTING TECHNIQUE: Is the contrast level appropriate for the image? Are there artifacts that make any dodging and burning too noticeable? Is toning well handled?
But, I have no special training in evaluating my own photos, yet alone yours! That bothered me. So I flushed out the following few tips to help me better judge your photos.
CREATING BETTER PHOTOS
************************************
The simplest advice came from the New York Institute of Photography who ask you the photographer to:
STEP 1. Know your subject,
STEP 2. Focus attention on your subject., and
STEP 3. Simplify.
Their web site goes on to apply these three steps within a variety of photographic settings.
EVALUATING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS
****************************************
I will follow the Oregon Coast Photo Club's “Guide to Evaluating Photographs when you ask me to critique your photographs ! Their guide is included below. So, that's the plan. Brace yourself!
http://members.tripod.com/oregoncoastphotoclub/rules/jdgegude/evaluate.htm] A Guide to Evaluating Photographs[/url]
BASIC TECHNIQUE:
Is focus appropriate for the subject?
Is depth of field appropriate?
Is it exposed in a way that works for the image?
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
Are special techniques like multiple exposures, sandwiching, panning, or cross processing used effectively? If the image is digitally manipulated, is the manipulation done well?
COMPOSITION: Is the image balanced or unbalanced? Is the balance level appropriate? If there is a main center of interest, is it well placed in the frame? Are there distracting elements in the picture that could be eliminated? Are there too many unrelated elements? Too few elements? Does the composition make effective use of leading lines? Is depth used (or not used) to good advantage? Does the composition make use of repeating forms? Does the framing work? Mergers?
LIGHTING: Does it show off the subject well? Is the contrast level appropriate? Is there lighting that would work better for the subject? If the lighting is controlled, is it well controlled?
SUBJECT INTEREST: Does the subject have interesting connotations or associations? Color interest? Interesting textures? Interesting juxtapositions?
ORIGINALITY: Does the image show an original subject or an original approach to a standard subject? Is it anonymous, or does it show a visual signature or convey a personal vision?
STORY MOOD: Does the image effectively tell a story or convey a mood?
PRINTING TECHNIQUE: Is the contrast level appropriate for the image? Are there artifacts that make any dodging and burning too noticeable? Is toning well handled?