But wait, I don't feel qualified to critique pictures!!

Critiquing an image is not as difficult as most people believe. It can be as easy as stating what you like or don't like about an image. Our Eager To Learn forum is not just a great place to gain confidence in post images, it is a great place to gain confidence in critiquing images as well.

Here are some suggestions that can use to make your critiques even more affective when you feel comfortable doing so.

Advanced Critique Suggestions.

• Consider offering your critique as an opinion ie IMO, etc.

• Consider using terms like "put the image over the top" or "will make the image even stronger"

• Instead of just telling a photographer that the subject should be located more left or right in the frame etc.,tell them why it should be located more left or right in the frame.

• Instead of "great image or well done" explain why it is a great image and what photographic elements or techniques make it so. It is rare, but there are images posted that are "great" and just couldn't get any better. However, photographers need to learn what makes an image great just as much learning what makes a poor photograph.

• Ask the posting photographers questions. ie "Was the noise in the image that was mentioned earlier caused by under-exposure? The tonality of the background is lighter than a middle tone and your exposure setting was listed as -1/3 stop, from the metered value; why did you do that? Did you need to lighten the image in the conversion process or Photoshop?"

• It should be understand that when you offer your opinion on even the smallest detail, you are not nitpicking. It is attention to detail that separates good from great. At the same time, it is not necessary to enlarge the photo and critique it on elements that would otherwise be indiscernible.

• If there is a distracting element in the frame, rather than immediately suggesting it be cloned out, help the photographer with the "geometry of photography". Move left or right, up or down and perhaps that distracting element will be hidden by the subject or the angle would move the element out of the frame.

• Use re-posts as a tool to communicate major changes. Re-posts will lose their impact if used on images that can easily be critiqued using the written word.

• When evaluating color or exposure, it is best to use a calibrated monitor. The results you see, compared to what the image actually looks like can vary greatly otherwise.

Posting an image for critique is an excellent way to rapidly improve any photographers ability to create beautiful images. You can help those offering image critiques by listing details of the capture process.

Listed below are some of the details to include in your post that will help you receive the best critique possible.


Capture

• Camera Type and Model

• Lens Focal Length and Model

• ISO, Metering Mode, Exposure Mode

• Exposure Compensation (if used)

• Shutter Speed, Aperture

• Focus Mode

• Tripod, Tripod Head

• Flash, Flash Settings

Post Processing

• Crop

• USM

• Levels/Curves

• Noise Reduction

• Cloning or other modification

You don't need to list all of the above(it would be the most helpful) but list as much as you can and any other factors that had an affect on the final image.

I can tell you with certainty, that without receiving and giving image critiques over the years, I would never have been published in the likes of Outdoor Photographer, Audubon, National Geographic Adventure, Popular Photography, Shutter Bug, to name a few.

Please understand, Birdphotographers.Net is not like other photography forums. We are not going hurt your progress just to boost your ego. It is our goal to honestly critique your images as gently as possible, while having fun doing it.

I would like to encourage everyone to take advantage of this one of a kind learning experience by both receiving and offering critiques. If you do, the results will speak for themselves!!