Photo Critique Guide…………Your Name: _______________________________ Period# ______

I. Background Information

A. Photographer’s name: ____________________________________________________________

B. Photographer’s heritage: __________________________________________________________

C. Title of photograph: _________________________________________________________________

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 forces and/or influences: _________________________________________

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

_____ personal artistic expression

_____ experiment / exploration of medium (What special things does the photographer seem to be interested in experimenting with? ____________________________________________________)

_____ social comment (what is the message? ________________________________________ )

_____ private / private commission (by whom? _____________________________________________ )

_____ other: ________________________________________________________

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

magazine title, date & page: ___________________________________________________

or book title & page: _______________________________________________________

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

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

___ Black & White Print

___ 10 Zone ___ Graduated Contrast ___ Very High Contrast

___ Color Print

___ many natural lookingcolors ___ Monochrome (what color: __________________ )

___ unusual / fantasy colors

___ Hand colored Black & White Print

___ Other: (explain/describe: ________________________________________________ )

III. Description (Structural / Critical Analysis):

These questions are designed to help you to describe what you see using precise photographic art vocabulary.

A. What is the primary subject of this photograph?

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

___ Still Life (A still life is an arrangement of objects; what objects do you see?

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___ Animal(s) ___Landscape ___Seascape ___City Scene ___Architecture

___ abstract/geometric shapes ___ abstract/organic shapes

B. How would you describe the style of the artwork?

___ Realistic ___ Story-telling ___ Dream-like / Surrealistic ___ Abstract:

C. Which “General Guidelines for Photographic Composition” appear to have been used?

___ Fill the Frame ___ Limit / Simplify Background

___ Point of View ___ Foreground Framing

___ Leading Lines ___ Interesting Shapes

___ Rhythm / Repetition / Pattern ___ Values / Grey Zones used for Emphasis

___ Other(s): ______________________________________________________________

D. Which type of balance appears to have been used?

___ Rule of 3rds ___ Symmetrical ___ Asymmetrical ___ Radial Balance

E. Space is: ___ Pictorial (looks like a real 3 dimensional place) ___ Flat (looks like a design - not a place)

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

Light Direction: ___ Front Lighting ___ Side Lighting ___ Back Lighting

Light Quality:

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

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

___ Backlit Radiance ___ Silhouette

Light Source:

___ Sunlight ___ Light Bulb ___ Flash Unit ___ Night ___ Candle / Fire light

___ Other: ______________________________________

IV. Composition Element(s)

-- What (specific) design element has the photographer used to create emphasis while maintaining a sense of balance & harmony within the composition -- that is, WHAT is it that is used by the photographer to draw the eye of the viewer to the most important part(s) of the photo? (If more than one element is significant, use # 1, #2, #3, etc. to show the elements in the order you see them used most obviously.)

____ Space ____ Line ____ Texture ___ Value ____ Mass ____ Color ____ Shape

-- Explain your choice(s).____________________________________________________________________

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-- What (specific) design principles has the photographer used to create emphasis -- that is, HOW has the photographer used the elements you selected in the section above to draw the eye of the viewer to the most important part(s) of the photo while maintaining a sense of balance & harmony within the composition? (If more than one principle is significant, use # 1, #2, #3, etc. to show the elements in the order you see them used most obviously.)

____ leading lines / shapes / or tones ____ balance ____ rhythm / repetition / pattern

____ emphasis ____ strong contrasts ____ proportion / scale ____ unity and variety

-- Explain your choice(s).____________________________________________________________________

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V. 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. 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!!!)

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B. 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 or what story can you imagine based on what you see in the photo?)

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What do you see in the photograph that leads you to believe that this is the artist’s message?

(What details or “clues” do you see that give you information about the photographer’s “message” or reason for creating this photo?)

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D. 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.

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V. Aesthetics (If you need more space, use your essay question response sheet.)

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

Why or why not?_____________________________________________________________________

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B. In your opinion is this an example of ‘fine’ art or an example of craft-work? Could it be both?

_____ fine art (fine art works demonstrate skill and communicate ideas, moods, or emotions)

_____ craft work (craft works demonstrate skill but do not usually attempt to communicate ideas.)

Explain: ________________________________________________________________________

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C. In your opinion is this artwork successful in communicating an idea? _____ Yes _____ No

Why or why not? _________________________________________________________________

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