Critiquing Photos
The Assignment
You are to critique five photos. The photos must be by a famous photographer listed Historic & Master Photographers Page. Include copy of each photograph being critiqued. Fill out the form for each photograph then insert or attach a copy of each photograph you are critiquing.
You are to critique five photos. The photos must be by a famous photographer listed Historic & Master Photographers Page. Include copy of each photograph being critiqued. Fill out the form for each photograph then insert or attach a copy of each photograph you are critiquing.
Critique Form (You Need Five of These)
Critiquing Five Photos | |
File Size: | 94 kb |
File Type: |
Instructions & Photographers List Packet
List of Photographers | |
File Size: | 338 kb |
File Type: |
Good Websites to find professional photographer's work
Masters of Photography Website: http://www.masters-of-photography.com/index.html
Masters of Photography Website: http://www.masters-of-photography.com/index.html
See Historic & Master Photographers Page for official list of photographers
Has official list and good websites for information about photographers.
Has official list and good websites for information about photographers.
Things To Think About When Critiquing
1. Discuss technical execution — how good is the photograph
Talk/Write about:
2. Discuss aesthetic execution — how the photograph looks, its composition
Talk/Write about:
Talk/Write about — What is the statement and why do you think it applies?
3. Critique the photo — reasons that you like/dislike with supporting rationale.
Remember to think about whether the photograph meets requirements
a. If a photo for a class assignment, talk/write about:
Are all required elements met?
Is photo clearly label for assignment?
Then critiqué why you like or dislike the image providing supporting rational (reasons) why you like or dislike the it.
Remember to use compositional and technical terminology.
Think about how the image makes you feel, what kind of emotion it does or does not evoke.
b. If a photo by a professional, talk/write about:
Then critiqué why you like or dislike the image providing supporting rational (reasons) why you like or dislike the it.
Remember to use compositional and technical terminology.
Think about how the image makes you feel, what kind of emotion it does or does not evoke.
Also think about:
More Things To Think About When Critiquing
The following outline is adapted from Edmund Feldman’s Varieties of Visual Experience (Prentice Hall, 1972).
I. Give an introduction about the facts of the exhibit. Who? What? When? Where?
II. Critique one or more of the works included in the exhibition using a four-step process.
A. Description
Make objective* or value-neutral* statements about the work in question. Exclude interpretations and evaluations, and instead take an objective inventory of the work. Point out single features such as objects, trees, and people. Then point out abstract elements such as shapes and colors. Finally point out textures, which can lead to a description of the “characteristics of execution.”
*A test of objectivity would be that most people would agree with your statement.
B. Formal analysis
Make statements about the relations among the things you named in the descriptions (part A). You should note similarities in formal elements–such things as color, shape, or direction. Then note dissimilarities (contrasts) in those same elements. Take note of continuities (such as the color red repeated throughout the work) and of connections (for example, the shape of a window repeated in the shape of a table) between these formal elements and the subject matter. Finally, note the overall qualities of the work.
C. Interpretation
Make statements about the meaning(s) of the work. This is the most creative part of your critique. Using a hypothesis, support
it with arguments, based on evidence given in the description and formal analysis (parts A and B)
D. Judgment
This is the most complex part of the critique and requires an opinion regarding the worth of an object, based on what was learned in the previous stages of the critique. Are you moved by this work? What do you think of it? What is your aesthetic judgment? And on what is based?
III. Draw conclusions — compare and contrast the works.
1. Discuss technical execution — how good is the photograph
Talk/Write about:
- Exposure — details in shadows & highlights
- Flaws — dirt, dust, chemical marks, fogging (light leaks), etc.
- Contrast — low (muddy all gray no black or white) • high (all black and white no gray)
- Focus — blurry from movement, lens not in focus
- Depth-of Field — shallow (little in focus), deep (everything in focus)
- Action Stopped — is it appropriate, too fast, too slow
2. Discuss aesthetic execution — how the photograph looks, its composition
Talk/Write about:
- Complexity /Simplicity — little, lot
- Balance — between light & dark, negative/positive space
- Contrast — between subject matters
- Movement — how does your eye move through the photograph
- Color — how is color used
- Name predominate type of composition
- Examples:
- Rule of Thirds
- Golden Mean
- Leading Lines
- Repeating Patterns
- Simplicity
- Framing
- Textures
- Balance
Talk/Write about — What is the statement and why do you think it applies?
3. Critique the photo — reasons that you like/dislike with supporting rationale.
Remember to think about whether the photograph meets requirements
a. If a photo for a class assignment, talk/write about:
Are all required elements met?
Is photo clearly label for assignment?
Then critiqué why you like or dislike the image providing supporting rational (reasons) why you like or dislike the it.
Remember to use compositional and technical terminology.
Think about how the image makes you feel, what kind of emotion it does or does not evoke.
b. If a photo by a professional, talk/write about:
Then critiqué why you like or dislike the image providing supporting rational (reasons) why you like or dislike the it.
Remember to use compositional and technical terminology.
Think about how the image makes you feel, what kind of emotion it does or does not evoke.
Also think about:
- Are all required elements met? Is the photograph by a listed photographer?
- Is photo clearly label for assignment? Have you filled in all sections of form?
More Things To Think About When Critiquing
The following outline is adapted from Edmund Feldman’s Varieties of Visual Experience (Prentice Hall, 1972).
I. Give an introduction about the facts of the exhibit. Who? What? When? Where?
II. Critique one or more of the works included in the exhibition using a four-step process.
A. Description
Make objective* or value-neutral* statements about the work in question. Exclude interpretations and evaluations, and instead take an objective inventory of the work. Point out single features such as objects, trees, and people. Then point out abstract elements such as shapes and colors. Finally point out textures, which can lead to a description of the “characteristics of execution.”
*A test of objectivity would be that most people would agree with your statement.
B. Formal analysis
Make statements about the relations among the things you named in the descriptions (part A). You should note similarities in formal elements–such things as color, shape, or direction. Then note dissimilarities (contrasts) in those same elements. Take note of continuities (such as the color red repeated throughout the work) and of connections (for example, the shape of a window repeated in the shape of a table) between these formal elements and the subject matter. Finally, note the overall qualities of the work.
C. Interpretation
Make statements about the meaning(s) of the work. This is the most creative part of your critique. Using a hypothesis, support
it with arguments, based on evidence given in the description and formal analysis (parts A and B)
D. Judgment
This is the most complex part of the critique and requires an opinion regarding the worth of an object, based on what was learned in the previous stages of the critique. Are you moved by this work? What do you think of it? What is your aesthetic judgment? And on what is based?
III. Draw conclusions — compare and contrast the works.