Photo Critique Guide

Photo Critique Guide

I. Background Information

A. Title of photograph: ___________________________________________________________

B. Photographer’s name: _________________________________________________________

B. Photographer’s heritage: _______________________________________________________

D. Date photograph was created: __________

If no specific date is given, mark approximate date: ____1800’s ____1900-1950 ____1950-present

E. Place photograph was created: _________________________ ___ not given / not stated

F. Historical / Social / Personal forces that influenced this photographer’s work:

__________________________________________________________________________

G. Photographer’s ‘purpose’ in creating this artwork:

_____ personal artistic expression /experiment / exploration of medium

_____ social comment (what is the message? ______________________________________ )

_____ commission (by whom? _________________________________________________ )

_____ other: _____________________________________________________________

H. Place where a print of the photograph may be found

Book or magazine title, date & page: _______________________________________________

or computer ‘address’ URL http://www._________________________________________

II. Describe the photograph (Mark the correct descriptions &/or fill in blank spaces with descriptions.)

A. Classification:

___ Black & White Print: ___ 10 Zone ___ Graduated Contrast ___ Very High Contrast

___ Color Print: ___ realistic ___ monochrome (shades of one color) ___ symbolic colors

___ Computer Manipulated

B. What is the primary subject of this photograph?

___ Portrait (check one: ___one person ___more than one person)

___ Still Life (what objects do you see? ________________________________________)

___ Animal(s) (what animal(s)? ________________________________________________)

___Landscape ___Seascape ___Cityscape

___ Abstract shapes Abstract shapes are natural shapes that have been simplified, distorted and/or reduced to their “essence” - usually done by eliminating all unimportant or nonessential details.

C. Which LIGHTING type(s) appear(s) to have been used? (Mark all that apply.)

___ Diffused (no visible shadows ___ Directional - Hard (distinct, hard-edged shadows are visible)

___ Directional Semi-Diffused (soft edged shadows create soft, “modeled” three dimensional effect)

___ Sunlight ___ Light Bulb ___ Flash Unit

___ Night ___ Low Light ___ Candle / Fire light

___ Stage / Spot light ___ Backlit Radiance ___ Silhouette

___ Front Lighting ___ Side Lighting ___ Back Lighting

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS GRID: Use this chart to describe the elements & principles used in the photograph
SHARPNESS	q Sharp Subject / Blurry Background (EMPHASIS/CONTRAST)				q Sharp Subject & Sharp Background (UNITY)
( SPACE )	BALANCE : q SYMMETRICAL q ASYMMETRICAL q RULE OF THIRDS q RADIAL
	TYPE (Description)	EMPHASIS				MOVEMENT	HARMONY
		PROPORTION / SCALE	LEADING / POINTING	CONTRAST		Movement /Rhythm/ Repetition / Pattern	UNITY / VARIETY
SPACE	q Pictorial (Realistic) q Flat (“abstract”)	q subject is very large compared to the background q subject is very small compared to the background	q Foreground Frame q S-Curve q Vanishing Point			q Objects OVERLAP
LINES	q horizontal q vertical q diagonal		q S-Curve q Vanishing Point q Line points to:	q thick/thin q dark/light q direction		q many lines of similar type q Lines that create pattern(s)	“set” =
SHAPES	q geometric q organic q both / mixed	q very large q very small		q tiny/large q geometric/organic q dark/light		q Repeated shapes q Shape Patterns q Rhythm	“set” =
TEXTURES	q rough/spiky q smooth/soft q corrugated			q rough/smooth q spiky/smooth q hard/soft		q Repeated textures q Texture Pattern q waves of texture	“set” =
FORM / MASS	q curved q boxy q solid q hollow	Subject:		q large/small q curved/boxy q dark/light q concave/convex		q mass / form / depth shown by shadows & highlights q mass / form / depth shown by size change (size diminishes as distance increases)	“set” =
VALUES Light/Dark “zones” (shades of gray)	q 10 zones q gradual q high contrast q silhouettes	q mostly dark q mostly bright	q dark leads to light q light leads to dark q Foreground Frame	q subject dark background light q subject light background dark		q Patterns q Rhythm	“set” =
COLORS	q Realistic q Monochrome:___ grayscale ___ color (what color? ___________________) q Symbolic: (example: red/white/blue)					q Repetition q Pattern q Rhythm	“color set” =

III. Analyze the photograph (Mark the correct descriptions &/or fill in blank spaces with descriptions.)

A. How would you describe the STYLE of this photograph?

___ Realistic ___ Dream-like / Surrealistic

___ Story-telling ___ Expresses Emotion

___ Abstract: ___Mostly Geometric Shapes ___ Mostly Organic Shapes

B. Where do you think the EMPHASIS is -- that is, where did the artist want our eyes to go?

__________________________________________________________________________

What did the photographer use to draw our eye to the point of emphasis? (eg. leading lines, etc.)

__________________________________________________________________________

C. DEPTH OF FIELD:

Are the things you see in the background in sharp focus or has a limited depth of field deliberately been used to make background elements appear blurry to keep the emphasis on the main subject and to avoid unnecessary distractions?

___ sharp focus ___ selective focus (subject is sharp but background is blurry)

D. Which COMPOSITION guidelines or techniques appear to have been used?

___ Foreground Framing ___ Strong Geometric Shapes

___ Point of View (bird’s eye/worm’s eye) ___ Interesting Silhouettes / Shadows

___ Fill the Frame ___ Rhythm / Repetition / Pattern

___ Emphasis by selective focus (sharp subject / blurry background)

Peak of Action: ___ Freeze Action ___ Panning

Leading Line(s): ___Vanishing Point ___Other type of leading line

___ Other (describe: ____________________________________________ )

IV. Visual / Graphic COMMUNICATION Answer each of the following questions as precisely as possible. Please use complete sentences to answer the questions. (If you need more space, use a separate sheet of paper.) The answers to these questions should be directly connected to the observations you made in the earlier sections of this analysis sheet.

A. Every photograph contains details or “clues” that help the photographer tell a story or communicate an idea. Imagine that the artist is trying to speak to you using this artwork instead of words. What do you think he or she is trying to say? (i.e. What does this artwork make you think about?)

1. List /describe as many details or “clues” that you see in this photograph as possible.

_________________________________________________________________________

2. What message do these “visual clues” tell you?

_________________________________________________________________________

B. If you were to see another artwork by the same artist what would you expect to see that is the same as what you see in this artwork? (Please NOTE: This is not a Yes/No question!!!)

__________________________________________________________________________

C. Either Compare this artwork to a different artwork you have seen (using art vocabulary)

OR Relate this artwork to something you have experienced in your life.

__________________________________________________________________________

V. Aesthetics (If you need more space, use a separate piece of paper.)

A. In your opinion is this an example of ‘good’ art? _____ Yes _____ No

Why or why not?

__________________________________________________________________________

B. If you were the photographer taking this picture what would you have done differently to either improve the design or to communicate a message more clearly?

__________________________________________________________________________

q I wouldn’t change anything.

I think this photo is well designed and communicates a clear message as it is.