Photo Critique

The CSE Critical Eye

Learn to examine images critically
to improve your own digital photography

This page on photo critique is where you begin to improve your digital photography. You'll learn to ask questions about photographs

Ted's Digital Photography Tip Use Constructive Photo Critique to Improve Your Photographs The goal of evaluating photographs is to identify opportunities for improving an image. If you start by looking at the strengths of the picture, you can build a constructive evaluation that generates positive energy and encourages the effort required to go the next level. While this is important in evaluating your own photos, it is doubly important when you are trying to help someone else put more punch in their work. Follow these guidelines: Look for the positive aspects of the photograph.  Identify opportunities to improve the photograph. Summarize your observations in a constructive manner, and provide keys to improvement. In your evaluation, blend objective  observations about CSE with your more subjective impressions of the photograph.

that help you to evaluate what “works” and what doesn't, whether looking at your pictures or someone else's. When you think about it, it's always easier to evaluate (and criticize) someone else's work than give your own masterpieces an honest assessment. When you can objectively evaluate your own photos, then you will have mastered critical eye.

How objective can you truly be? Difficult question – ultimately all review and evaluation is subjective. The best you can hope for is to have a common vocabulary for discussing and critiquing photos with your friends.

For photographers, that vocabulary starts with three key elements - CSE:

• composition
• sharpness
• exposure

Like many rules, some of the CSE rules are made to be broken – they're more like guidelines. Rules of composition fall into this category, since they deal mainly with human perception.

On the other hand, the rules for sharpness and exposure deal with the physics of light, so they are harder to effectively deviate from.

In all cases, the art of photography will dictate how to use CSE to best effect. The science of photography suggests that you'll be much more successful if you master the rules before breaking them.

Example Photo Critiques

This well-composed photograph has interesting lighting, but poor image sharpness. Click here for a critique

	This dramatic composition of an otherwise plain subject leverages strong contrast and directionality to capture the viewer's interest. Click here for a critique.
	This directional composition, taken six months after the pipes above, also leverages strong contrast and directionality to capture the viewer's interest. Click here for a critique.

Or, take a look at the Roving Photographer's reviews of other photographers' work.

Photo Critique Index

	This waterfall shot by Jessy is well-composed and has good balance of light and dark, although it has blown highlights in the extreme foreground and a washed-out sky that are both best cropped out. Click here for a critique and to see how alternative crops impact the photograph.
	Selective cropping and contrast adjustment improve this image by Tyler. Click here to see what additional opportunities this subject presents.
	The Rippled Reflection - a compact mirror under water introduces an imaginative concept with many variables to consider. Click here to see what additional opportunities this subject presents.
	A compelling subject and strong color contrast are the hallmarks of Carol's "Toad Stool from Wonderland". Click here to get ideas about how to improve the composition, sharpness, and exposure of this image.
	Spiral compositions, as in this photo critique of a spiral stair, capture the eye with a mixture of strong motion, radial symmetry, and flowing parallel lines. Click here for insights into fine-tuning this image