Evaluating a Photo - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

10/12/2004 12:44:42 PM · #1

Greetings...

Recent discussions about voting and comments to go with certain votes have made me think about 'viewing' photographs again. As photographers, we all tend to look at photographs with a critical eye. For what it's worth, I thought I would attempt to share my 'workflow' when I am evaluating a photograph. This though process may help someone understand how I, and possibly others, evaluate an image. It may also give you a new way to look at what you see.

Categorizing the Photo

The first step involves determining what type of photograph I am viewing. Photos usually break down into two major categories: setup shots and spontaneous shots. Setup photos include anything done in a studio or controlled environment, posed portraits, landscapes (urban or not), or any other type of photo where the photographer has a lot of control over the situation. Spontaneous shots include candid photos, some types of wildlife photography, sports and other action photography, and other types of photos where the photographer has little or no control over the situation. I find it extremely important to evaluate this because my evaluation of the execution of the photograph depends on whether or not the photographer made the best of his situation (will be discussed later).

Finding the Idea or Point of Interest

The next part of my workflow involves asking myself what the photographer is trying to show me in a photograph. There should be something in the photograph that relays an idea or a point of interest. The point of interest will usually jump out, but the images based on an idea may require a little more effort on my part to understand. Most photographers create an image for a reason. If I can't find the point of interest or idea within the photo, I can't evaluate it fairly and I can't allow myself to 'enjoy' the message within the image. I stop evaluating at this point because nothing else matters. I generally donâ��t like the photo at this point. Other viewers may, however, be able to find a point of interest or theme that makes them think about the image more. They may relate to the image in some way that I could not find. Our personal interest in any given subject or idea will vary.

The idea and/or point of interest in a photograph also help create the visual appeal of the image. Visual appeal is quite subjective, and itâ��s not always created by something pretty. The overall appeal of any particular photo may come completely from its theme rather than from the subject itself.

Evaluating the Execution

After I have determined what type of photo Iâ��m viewing and where the theme or point of interest lies, I can evaluate how well the photo was executed. If I canâ��t find the point of interest or idea, or if I donâ��t like either, I rarely even bother to consider the execution. To me, execution is secondary to my interest in the subject or theme. Any given photograph may have great execution qualities and nothing of interest for me to look at.

In a photo where the photographer has a lot of control over the situation, I donâ��t give much or any leeway in execution. If a photograph is of the spontaneous type, I try to determine if the photographer made the best possible photo in the given conditions.

In a photo where the photographer has little or no control over the situation, I donâ��t get so picky about technical elements of the image. The success of these photos seems to depend more on the visual or emotive impact. I try to determine if the exposure is as good as it can be and if the photographer composed the shot in the best way possible for the given situation. The general rules of photography donâ��t apply as much. What I tend to look for in these images are elements that do NOT work. Would a different depth of field improve the image? If so, I think the photographer should have attempted it. The same holds true for a different shutter speed. The backgrounds also play an important role. If they are too busy, the photo generally suffers because of it. There are lots of things a photographer can do in uncontrollable situations to make the best of them.

The execution of a photograph is where the photographer gets to inject some of himself into the image. I look at everything I see as a creative choice made by the photographer. If something is out of focus, I consider that to be a choice. The composition is a choice. Shutter speed and aperture settings are choices. The camera angle or perspective is a choice. Any post processing is definitely a choice. When I determine that a choice has been made by the photographer, I start trying to figure out why the choice was made. If the choice supports the subject or the overall theme of the photo, it was usually a good choice. These choices should be for a reason. These choices should improve my opinion of the image and not make me think too long about why they were made.

In A Nutshellâ�¦

I categorize the photograph so I know how to evaluate it properly. Then I look for the subject or theme of the image. If I like either, I determine how well it was executed.

saintaugust

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

10/12/2004 12:59:43 PM · #2

thats very helpful coming from one of the masters on the site.

i'm no master, but i agree with a lot of the process. thing is, i think the average user spends only a few seconds per shot (depending on how many entries). so my question is, how long does this individual judging process take for you on average?

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

10/12/2004 01:15:53 PM · #3

Thanks John. Good explanation to what seems like a very fair way to evaluate a photo. I think people need to realize that point of interest is, as you say, subjective. They should not get their feelings hurt if others do not â��get itâ�� but accept the fact that this particular audience just didnâ��t. Like any art we all have our preferences and they will show through in voting. Enjoy the diversity and learn from it.

Message edited by author 2004-10-12 13:21:22.

10/12/2004 01:19:21 PM · #4

Originally posted by saintaugust:

...my question is, how long does this individual judging process take for you on average?

It would depend, I speculate, to a small degree on the judge's age and to a larger degree on the intensity of his life experience.

Because of this, some judges should refrain from exercising judgement altogether. They should ask questions instead.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

10/12/2004 01:28:35 PM · #5

Originally posted by saintaugust:

So my question is, how long does this individual judging process take for you on average?

It can be anywhere between 10 seconds and 30 minutes.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

10/12/2004 01:29:49 PM · #6

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by saintaugust:
So my question is, how long does this individual judging process take for you on average?

It can be anywhere between 10 seconds and 30 minutes.

That doesn't sound like an average to me!

10/12/2004 02:09:18 PM · #7

> John

This is a very sober and inclusive approach to the matter. To catagorize the varying genres of pictures is, indeed, vital if we want to achieve some degree of objectivity before our personal affections or distastes run away with us. You are dead-right also by insisting on different measures for the variable kinds of photographs we come across.

At the basis of this, your method of looking and evaluation, is, I feel, a formed interest in, not only a picture itself, but also in the context that has contributed to its existence. When it comes down to it, when an image is 'seen' and 'recognized' after examination of its context and properties, I would propose to consider another (known) image for comparison, one drawn from context.

I see no reason why we should not apply the method of natural science of comparing one slide of specimen with another to art or to that which may aspire to be art, if, indeed, such specimen are available to the critical student.

Message edited by author 2004-10-12 14:11:33.

10/12/2004 08:13:42 PM · #8

Originally posted by zeuszen:

>
I see no reason why we should not apply the method of natural science of comparing one slide of specimen with another to art or to that which may aspire to be art, if, indeed, such specimen are available to the critical student.

I'm not entirely sure I understand this part :)

10/12/2004 08:42:52 PM · #9

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by zeuszen:
>
I see no reason why we should not apply the method of natural science of comparing one slide of specimen with another to art or to that which may aspire to be art, if, indeed, such specimen are available to the critical student.

I'm not entirely sure I understand this part :)

The confusion is probably of my making.

What I'm trying to say is that it may help to compare an image we intend to evaluate to another image within its catagory or genre. Biology makes use of this method by comparing one slide of a specimen to another.

I also believe that many photographers have an image or a set of images which comes to their mind from the much larger context of the history of photography. When this is the case, a comparison can be made effectively, IMO, particularly when that image represents an ideal and posesses distinct qualities (endurance, to name one), which can be assumed to be known sufficiently and widely enough to provide a measure.

Artists and those who aspire to art sometimes resist science, yet both art and criticism, IMO, would benefit from the scientific method.

Message edited by author 2004-10-12 21:12:24.

10/12/2004 09:34:52 PM · #10

Ok.. I think I can understand this now :)

It's like comparing calculated results (which we know to be correct) with experimental results in chemistry lab :)

That being said, when I categorize the photo I'm viewing, I may tend to compare with my own idea of a 'perfect specimen'?

That makes sense.

10/12/2004 09:42:39 PM · #11

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

...when I categorize the photo I'm viewing, I may tend to compare with my own idea of a 'perfect specimen'?...

Yes, c'est Ã§a!