Understand your Photos with Self Critiques

Samurai March Man, Kajsa Stolberg 1/80s @ f/5.6, 80mm, ISO 100

Kajsa here today, and I hope everyone had a nice holiday and didn’t get into any fist-fights over half-priced GPS systems like the rowdy folk in my home town.  As for me, graduate school applications are in so of course my week was great.
I spent the last  two months weeding over my photographs that I took while in Japan so I could send in a solid 20 photos for the portfolio portion of the application.  From the collection that I first chose, I actually kept 3 of the same pictures.  It was a process of choosing winners, ditching the losers, replacing previous winners, and discovering photos that I never knew had potential.  Needless to say it kind of consumed me.  I know that I landed on the portfolio I am proudest of though because now that I’ve finished and my stress level is down, family members will actually be in the same room with me.
Self critiquing can be a lot more difficult than critiquing a peer, but I’ll show you how understanding your photographs helps to get you your best results.

A few things I ask myself when I begin my critique,
1. What does my gut say?  Instincts usually don’t lie.  Do I like the photo?  If I like the photo, but something is still bothering me then I ask some more questions, like…
2. How’s the composition?  Now, this may not be what you notice right off the bat, but it’s been high on my list ever since it was first brought to my attention in Henry Rankin Poore’s “Composition in Art.”  It’s such a simple book, but it holds the secrets to really really good art, like pivot points and the rule of thirds.  Check your library for a copy, and you can have it read in an afternoon spent in the company of old books.
3. Is the contrast where I want it?  Black and white shots can knock your socks off if you get the right blackest blacks and whitest whites in balance.  If you have a photo that looks dull, lack of contrast can be the culprit.  In your color photos, vibrancy is the key.
4. How does the subject speak to me?  This probably should be higher on the list, but I tend to look at the mechanics of something before I attach myself emotionally – you may be different!  To get to the point, our favorite photographs usually have a story behind them.  I am so proud of my Tokyo fish market photos because I had to get up at 3:45 that morning to catch the subway before rush hour and make the daily fish auction.  Alone.  Or as alone as I could be in the world’s most populous metropolitan area.  Your favorite shot holds more memories than you’ll ever be able to explain to your viewers, and that’s an invaluable quality that can never be critiqued.  Now with that said, a good story doesn’t always equate to a great photo, but what I’m talking about is getting the shot that not everyone is willing to get and the value in really working for a photo.

These reasons can all work against the photographer though.  If I don’t like a photograph, I then have to ask why not.
- Sometimes it’s as simple as the photo’s not in focus.
- Is the composition static?  What I mean is, does the eye not move across the page?
- Is it unbalanced to the point of distraction?
- Are there spots or unimportant details that also distract me?  Maybe I’ve captured a beautiful sunset, but power lines cross right through the frame in an unattractive pattern.
- Did I fail to fill the frame?
- Is the exposure all wrong?
- Is the subject matter compelling?

What really matters at the end of the day is making photographs that you enjoy.  That’s why you started photography in the first place, right?   Keep in mind that what is most important to me in a photo will not be the same for you.  I’ve just given some basic tips that have lasted the test of time.  Use them to bump your shots to the next level, or to remind yourself what you’ve known all along.

A self critique is an excellent beginning but sometimes having a friend or a third party review you work can be helpful too.  John blogged on the subject HERE.  However, if you don’t trust your friends or family to give you honest yet tastefully constructive feedback then you’re in luck!  We will be continuing John’s online critiques once December begins.  To ensure enough time for quality responses we will limit the enrollment to six, so send John an email to let us know that you’re interested.
The cost for two assignments including useful feedback from us is $50 and you can pay securely by PayPal.  Feel free to email john@batdorffphotography.com with any questions or fill out the form below.

Today you can find me relaxing with the comfort in knowing that my applications are in and I’m proud of the work submitted.  Have a good week, and remember GPS systems are nothing to throw fists over.  A wide angle lens on the other hand…
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This entry was posted on Sunday, November 29th, 2009 at 12:15 pm. It is filed under Classes, composition, General and tagged with online critiques, self critique. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.