Challenge V : How to critique

[ricktas]

Now comes an interesting challenge for those New To Photography.

It is great to learn new skills from the challenges here and improve your photography. Along with the challenges, other members also contribute by giving you constructive criticism (CC) of your photos to help you improve. To contribute on Ausphotography, you also need to learn how to give constructive criticism to other members. So this challenge doesn’t require you to go out and take photos, but rather look at a particular photo and give some constructive criticism about it.

I don’t want to see comments like “I like it, great photo, wow, that’s great…etc”. I want to see well thought out responses. There is a guide below, which might help you along your way.

Now to be fair, this photo is one of mine, I have a thick skin and won’t take offense to anything a New To Photography participant says about it. Just take some time look at the photo, use the guide to help you. Remember you do not have to agree with what others have said, Say what YOU think.

I look forward to seeing your responses.





The concept
* A photo is presented for a full on critique.
* Members are invited to critique the photo in full, and also learn from others critiques, and apply what they learn to critiquing other member photos on Ausphotography.

Critique - how to guide

Things to consider
* Subject
* Composition
* Emotive response/connection
* Visual impact
* Lighting
* Posing (when applicable)
* Technical details (exposure, colour balance, contrast)
* Treatment (mono conversion, sharpening, dust spot removal etc)

Critique the composition/subject choice
Is the main subject in the centre of the frame? Is it on a third? Somewhere else? Does the chosen composition work, or would you have done something differently? Look at the composition or content in the photograph. What is the centre of interest in the picture? Where did the photographer place it in the frame? Did the photographer get close enough to the subject to include only what is important, or are there wasted parts of the picture with elements that do not add to the message of the photo? Would the photo have been improved if the photographer had taken it after changing location (ie moved 2 steps to the left) Is the main subject in focus? Is it sharp focus, or a "soft" focus? Is the focus appropriate for the situation?

Emotional Impact
How does the photo connect with you on an emotional level? Does it remind you of happy times, sad times, traumatic experiences, a sense of excitement or acheivement? Why does it invoke these emotions? Do experiences from your past influence how you perceive the photo? Maybe the subject is your favourite sporting star, or a tropical island reminiscent of your honeymoon or a much remembered holiday. All these things impact the way you see the photo you are critiquing. Comment on this, cause your emotive connection will be different to the next person's.

Fore, Middle, and Backgrounds.
Does the photo contain all three? If not, do you think it would be better if it did? Next, observe the areas outside the main subject in the photograph. How did the photographer represent these areas in regards to focus and depth of field? Is the DOF shallow or deep? Does the DOF work in this shot, or should more (or less) of the photo be in focus? How do these areas of the photograph add or distract from the message of the photo? If there is an horizon, is it straight and level?

Cropping/Framing.
Is there wasted empty space is the photo? Should the crop have been tighter? Is it cropped so tightly that important parts of the photo have been cut off?

Colour / Tonal Range.
What type of colours do you see? Did the photographer use a lot of primary colours? Secondary? Complementary? Are the colours too vivid? Not vivid enough? Is the light soft or harsh? Does the type of lighting enhance or detract from the things in the photo? Is the white balance set correctly? Is there a yellowish, orangish, blueish or greenish cast to the photo?If you are looking at a B&W photo, is there a true black, true white, with a large tonal range in between, or is the photo too "gray"?

Leading lines.
Do the lines and overall composition make you want to look deeper into the photo? Is your eye drawn into the photo, or out of it?

Balance.
Is the photo "balanced"? Would it be better if there were other objects or other light/dark areas in the frame to improve the balance? If the photo is off balance, is there a reason for it?

Exposure.
Is any area overexposed or underexposed? If so, can you say why you think that happened? How could the photographer prevent this problem in the future?

Finally, offer your own personal feelings on the photograph. What do you like about the selected subject? Is it an emotional shot, a story, a statement, a humorous photo? What would you do differently if you had the chance to take the same photograph?

Examples
You could just say "Great photo", but why not add that bit more "Great photo, I really like the colours of the sunset, the clouds grab my attention"

'I like this", why not add "I like this cause its not an insect I have seen so close before, I didn't realise they had incandescent wings"

Summary
Constructive critiquing is a learned skill, start off easily, and just add a sentence to your comment. Do not try and write whole paragraphs to start with. Read others critiques, look at the points they raise and look at the photo. Learn from what you read. Not only will the skill of critiquing well, help the photographers you critique, but it will help your own photography as you take on board what you learn reading others critiques.

[Dan AU]

Hi Rick I like the photo..here is my first attempt at giving a more thoughtful and decent critique...


It is showing the 2 labs walking along the trail, I think the front dog could be in focus so we see more of the expression and details in the face.

The composition seems fine to me with dogs on trail and dof sufficient to make the dogs the main subject matter.

I am a dog lover however I do not get a big impact other than a couple dogs walking along with their owner enjoying a walk.

Lighting and exposure are pretty good, I think it could be a little sharper although you were walking along in a darkened forest area and you would have likely been hand holding for this shot and having a longer exposure to compensate for the light.

Dan

I have tried to use the guideline, it is still not an easy process Hope this is the type of thing you were looking for and look forward to having my critique, critiqued.

[yummymummy]

This could be a great photo if the dogs were in focus more. The focus, in my view is on the ferns and the ground below the dogs. colours look good though, so maybe a faster shutter speed(?)or the use of a tripod might help, to capture them as if they were frozen in time. It would be nice to see the expression on the old dog in front's face.

[ricktas]

Great work Dan and Kirsty. Keep an eye on this thread and look at what others say. I hope you find you can use this guide to start improving your comments on other members photos.

[yummymummy]

thanks Rick, it's a great thread, as are the rest of them in the New to Photography section, I find myself just losing myself in there lately trying to better my photos Thanks for a wonderful site!!

[Laurie]

Mmh! My attempt!
I like the composition and the feeling of movement of the dogs running towards the camera. I believe the dogs are the point of focus so think they should both be in focus rather than the ferns surrounding them. I also wonder if the dogs aren't a little over exposed? Have to say though, that I don't think I would have achieved any better under the circumstances!

[enduro]

I prefer to see some EXIF info & though it's not essential for a full critique I do prefer it posted or intact. Your use of vignetting is quite appealing.

The image is sharp enough. Though an acceptable DOF was implemented, the key focal point appears to be between the two animals rather than using it to empower a key subject. #1 Lab is not only OoF, but shows unacceptable movement (particularly in the head).

There is some interesting use of foreground [OOF ferns on the bottom right], surroundings are inviting. A portrait crop with attention to the Rule of Thirds (or other compsositional standard) might show off the leading line of the path way and enhance the key subjects some.

What to do next time?: Focus on lead dogs face, perhaps at a lower angle. Compose the shot through the view finder to detail points of interest and buy a Canon.

[Jcas]

Hmmm being a doglover i would like for the dogs to be a bit sharper and i would crop a bit around the sides and a bit at the rear, i think the exposure is as good as it could be in those surroundings.

The dogs following the track in the center of the pic works good for me. But i think if leading dog and foreground were a bit more focused, it would look like they were going somewhere, and that they were clear of where they were going.

I like the background part of the trail blurred, it sort of says this ground has been covered.

[ricktas]

thanks guys. I thought someone would comment on the front dog's tail partially obscuring the second dogs face.

Good to see you having a go at this, as its the best way to learn, by practising on a photo. I might do another challenge like this in the next week or two.

Looking forward to more critique on this one.

[Jcas]

I thought someone would comment on the front dog's tail partially obscuring the second dogs face.

I noticed that but my dogs are always getting a mouthfull of hair from another dogs wagging tail if they are standing behind, i seen that as normal doggie behaviour and something one would/could expect to see in a doggie pic...

[saratoga]

Great thread Rick......I don't think anyone learns from comments like great photo, nice shot or very cute...but I'm guilty of often doing that myself. Everyone can learn from CC of their images, from what people say about others images, and from having to sit down and actually think a photo through as you are encouraging in this thread and in the forum in general. Great work and am really enjoying the whole site!

Here's mine

I like the fact that the lighting(and vignette) in the image immediately focus your attention in on the dogs.....although unfortunately the main subject...the lead dog is unfocused. Pretty difficult to get things in focus when they are moving towards you quickly.

The image is generally well exposed although with the vignette I find the bottom corners a bit too dark as they lack any detail (may just be my monitor!). The saturation could be tweaked just a little and the whole image could do with a good sharpen....although this unfortunately wont fix the dog!

I know it's completely natural and was there in the scene, but I find the small brown leaf sitting in the ferns (across to the left and up from the second dog) a bit annoying, and would just clone it out

Not sure if you also tried it in portrait format...I think it may have worked better.....at the moment it's all a bit too central.....central dogs...central vertical line of the track. Perhaps stepping off the track a couple of paces so that the path cut a kind of diagonal down through the image with say the dogs in the top third of the image in the corner. I think protrait format would have also given the image more of a "sense of place" ... showing more of the forest.

Anyhow just my thoughts on the image.

Look like a nice couple of mates to go walking with...although I bet they dont share your patience when it comes to image taking!

cheers

[Cathi]

Well, here's my go at critiquing

I was actually going to mention about the front dogs tail being in the way. But with dogs, you can't control their tails LOL
I wonder if it needed to be cropped in a little tighter (maybe portrait?), with not so much in the way of ferns to distract from the main focus.. the dogs. The front dog is OOF and maybe needed a faster shutter speed to prevent the blur of the tails moving?

I probably bombed at this, but I gave it a go LOL

[41jas]

The dog's nose at the back is too close to other dogs %$#@...

[enigma82]

One thing I noticed about this picture is that both dogs' eyes appear completely black and empty - I'm not sure if there is a way to get a "glint" out of their eyes (as I'm new to photography, wouldn't know if there's a technique for this). I learned in an art class that adding light to the eyes makes them come to life, I think that would help in this photo too. Not sure if anyone else has brought this up as I haven't read through all the replies.

[geedee]

I will have a shot at this before reading the other posts. Critique is a very week point of mine .
The front dog is out of focus which is the main subject. your eye is drawn to the lead dog because of the brightness then up to the top of the frame and out due to the straight on view of the path. May have been better if the path run at an angle within the frame. This may be a bit hard to achieve due to the amount of scrub around the pathway. Also a crop with the dogs in the top third of the frame and more vacant path in front of them.
Still a good shot considering the dogs a running toward you. i dont think my reflexes are that good.
Regards GeeDee

[Papillon]

Hi Rick, I deliberately haven't read any of the other responses yet. I will dive straight in so as not to be influenced by other opinions then go and read the rest of the thread afterward.
The first thing that strikes me is the soft focus on the first dogs face, it needs to be much sharper, also both dogs look over exposed. Perhaps a slower shutter speed may have helped both these aspects. I find the second dogs face being partially covered by the lead dog very distracting too, I think moving to the left a little could have improved the composition a lot by revealing the second head more. I like the way the dark OOF foliage frames the shot, I think it draws the eyes toward the subject well. I think the DOF looks pretty right with the trail behind the dogs OOF and drawing me gently down the trail.
Hmm, that's a lot of critique. I hope I don't sound too cocky with so many comments.

[ricktas]

Hi Rick, I deliberately haven't read any of the other responses yet. I will dive straight in so as not to be influenced by other opinions then go and read the rest of the thread afterward.
The first thing that strikes me is the soft focus on the first dogs face, it needs to be much sharper, also both dogs look over exposed. Perhaps a slower shutter speed may have helped both these aspects. I find the second dogs face being partially covered by the lead dog very distracting too, I think moving to the left a little could have improved the composition a lot by revealing the second head more. I like the way the dark OOF foliage frames the shot, I think it draws the eyes toward the subject well. I think the DOF looks pretty right with the trail behind the dogs OOF and drawing me gently down the trail.
Hmm, that's a lot of critique. I hope I don't sound too cocky with so many comments.

Not cocky at all Rob, we want members to be honest and up front in their critiques. As you look down the thread you will find more images, have a go at those too, cause they are harder, not having as many glaring issues.

[draco]

ok, since this an NTP challenge, i will have a go at this this will be my first CC

on Rick's photo (two dogs in the forest): first thing i noticed is that the first dog's face have some motion blur and somehow, that part of the photo attracts my eye (maybe because it is very near the centre of the photo or just above the lower "rule of thirds" line). maybe a faster shutter and an increased ISO to compensate the faster shutter would have helped. this may put more noise in the photo but due to the nature of the photo having "course" overall background, noise might not even get noticed.

also, the tail of the first dog just obstructs the face of the second dog a little bit. in my opinion, it would have been better if the shot was taken just a little bit to the left. but then that fern on the left would obstruct the camera..

also, focus is a little bit off.. more of the ground is focused. if the focus was just higher, the DoF would have been great since it seems that the ground in front of the firts dog's face up to the ground on the second dog's body is clear and focused.. this may be what the photographer was aiming for but due to the spur of the moment and quickness of the dogs running, it was bit hard (i'm assuming that this was not a planned shot and the photographer just quickly took out the camera, composed the shot and *click*)..

i like the dark area on both sides of the photo.. it helps the eye on concentrating the view on the two dogs. but would have preferred if it extended a little bit more just to the middle upper right..

also, the two dogs are dead center in the photo.. in my opinion, it would have been better if the dogs where a bit "farther away" and the shot taken a bit lower..

just my 2 cents

[ricktas]

Good work draco. That is how you do it. now to go across to the member photos and start applying some of the same critiquing technique there.

[ricktas]

And here is another new one. Have a go at critiquing this one