Critiquing Photography

Unit 5 The Photographer

Learning Goals

Today, I will…

• Have knowledge and understanding of art

critiquing

• Be able to construct a photography critique

using key terms and proper formatting

What is an art critique?

An art (photography) critique

should aim to help the artist

improve their work and gain a

better understanding

art/photography.

What is an art critique?

Should aim to be…

• Constructive

• Objective

• Focus on 3 key elements;

1. Technical qualities

2. Composition

3. Emotional appeal

Technical Qualities

• FOCUS: Is the image sharp, in focus? If not, is it intentionally soft and

successful?

• CLEANLINESS: Is it free of scratches, dust spots, stains, lens flare, etc?

• EXPOSURE: Is it too light, too dark or just right? Are there overexposed

(blown/washed out) or underexposed areas?

• DEPTH OF FIELD: Is DoF used to control the viewer’s eye?

• LIGHTING: Is there too much contrast in the lighting? Too flat (no range in

shadows or highlights)? Or, just right?

• COLOURS: Does it have neutral colours or a strange colour cast?

Composition

• BALANCE: Is the image aligned correctly or is it crooked?

• LOGIC: Is the arrangement of the visual elements (subjects and objects)

effective?

• PURPOSE: Is there a strong centre of interest, focal point, pattern or

design? Where is your eye drawn to?

• CLARITY OF FRAMING: Is it simple, yet complete and without distracting

elements? What should and shouldn’t be in the frame?

– Think of S.EX

Emotional Appeal• DYNAMIC: Does it grab and keep your attention? Does it have the "wow" factor?

• PROVOCATIVE: Does it excite your imagination, or create a strong emotion in you?

• CREATIVE: Does it show a familiar subject in a new, unusual and yet effective way?

• UNUSUAL: Does it show a very unusual subject in an effective way?

• What emotion do you feel when you look at the photo? Or lack of?

• Did the photographer connect with his subjects or do they look tense, posed or unnatural?

• Does the photograph tell a story, or part of one?

– It could be as simple as, “here are my kids whom I adore” or “here’s my dog catching a Frisbee.”

– Or a very deep one such as, “the affects of war on the citizens of Vietnam, or Syria”

CN Tower

SARGENTO! (2015)

‘Damnation’ • Ariel Cabrera Foix

August 28, 2012. [Santiago, Chile]

A young student is trapped by a riot policeman

amid student demonstrations surrounded by

clouds of tear gas, once the clashes started at

some points of the march. Students are

continuously protesting asking for a change [in]

the Chilean educational system.

Marilyn Monroe

Richard Avedon (1957 )