Sample Critiques? - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

02/17/2004 10:44:15 PM · #1

I just joined the Critique Club and was about to write my first critique when I realized that I have never seen a critique on this web site. Is there a page or something where I can get a look at some critiques that have been provided to members? Or, can someone point me to some photos that have been critiqued? I do not want to plagiarize existing critiques; I just want to see some decent examples so I will know what is expected. For instance, is there a standard format for the content of a critique?

Regards,
Mick

faidoi

Pentax K10D

02/17/2004 10:50:35 PM · #2

Lustre

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

02/18/2004 12:48:13 AM · #3

About twelve months ago almost every photo in each challenge was critiqued. I'd suggest having a look at some of the older challenges. When I used to critique I would use the critique supplied to my "No road, no problem" photo as a guide for structure and maybe add one or two sections to it. The sections gave me a nice structure to follow. They were:

Composition - what is good or bad about the composition? would the inclusion or exclusion of an element have helped the photo?

Technical quality - comment on technical elements such as lighting, sharpness, colour accuracy, focus, chosen depth of field. was the photo technically strong as well as artistically strong?

Meeting the challenge - does the photo meet the challenge? does the photo depend on the title too heavily to meet the challenge? is it an interesting way of meeting the challenge or a very literal interpretation?

Creativity - a general comment on the artistic merit of the photo. does the photo convey an emotion? has something been done from a technical or composition point of view to make the photo more interesting than it otherwise would have been

Border / title - is the border and/or title appropriate to the image and the intended mood / emotion being conveyed?

Overall - a short summary

I always tried to focus on both the good and bad aspects of the photo. The good aspects let people know what is working well, and also happens to be flattering, whilst the bad can provide a focus for improvement.

Good luck - I wish I still had the time to regularly submit and critique photos.

02/18/2004 02:53:53 AM · #4

Originally posted by faidoi:

Thanks! That's just what I was looking for.

02/18/2004 02:56:52 AM · #5

Originally posted by sparky_mark:

Thank you for the detailed reply. That's just what I needed.

e301

02/18/2004 06:43:11 AM · #6

I hate getting formulaic critiques along the lines of those - almost as much as it annoys me to get just two lines of opinion masqerading as a 'critique'. What I want is informed opinion from people with genuinely useful thoughts and experience of a wide rangwe of photography.

That, however is not going to happen on a site like this very often, which is why I rarely ask for critiques any more.

E

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/18/2004 08:33:58 AM · #7

I have no personal experience with them, but The 28th Floor is a website that offers professional critiqes of your own photo for US$6. (All of the critiques are supposedly done by experienced photographers with fine arts degrees.) They have quite a few sample critiques that you can read to see how pros provide feedback on a photo. And not all of the samples are "perfect" pictures, for example, there is one that appears to be out of focus. Reading these sample critiques may provide some insight on how to provide a "good" critique, or even better feedback in comments.

dr rick

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

02/18/2004 11:15:45 AM · #8

I divide my critiques into three sections: The message, where I try to describe what message I get from the photo or how it makes me feel; Creative choices, where I comment on things like lighting, point of view, and composition; and Technical aspects, where I comment on focus, slanting, etc.

I hope this isn't too formulaic. I do it in this format to force myself to try to understand what the photo is trying to communicate and figure out what choices the photographer made that I can perhaps apply to my own photography. The experience has helped me a lot, and hopefully been useful to the recipients as well.

ellamay

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

02/18/2004 11:36:08 AM · #9

I recommend finding comments by zeuszen or jjbeguin, they have some equisite comments they have written, it is an honor to have them comment on a photo....they are my critique heroes...just a thought.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/18/2004 11:52:49 AM · #10

Originally posted by e301:

I agree. I am quite happy also with sincere attempts at critique, even very subjective and personal observations. What I object to are comments which refer to the author of an image as opposed to the picture itself as well as those based on false assumptions not given by it, thoughtless, indiscriminate comments, in other words, made without due consideration and/or investigation.

The most useful comment, IMO, follows a keen interest in the facts (both technical and emotional), argues passionately for that which is moving, while spelling out recognized faults and shortcomings accurately and evaluating these in the context of the whole presentation. A beautiful comment would be one that can do all of these things articulately and place an image in the context of so many images.

Lustre

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

02/18/2004 04:18:47 PM · #11

Originally posted by e301:

I understand what you are saying but just because I followed a structure didn't make my comments any less sincere or thought about. I don't have an arts degree and I'm not a world reknown photographer - but I can still add my opinion as a viewer of an image.

My apologies if I wasn't "qualified" enough, but I always tried my best. I, however, felt that I could provide input that was useful to the average DPChallenge user - this is a free public site and therefore not everyone is an accomplished photographer.