A photographer uses framing and composition to make a subject stand out.
There are several criteria by which a photograph can be judged. These typically include such technical aspects as focus, graininess, color and contrast, all of which have mostly uniform rules, and such subjective artistic aspects as framing, subject choice, composition and any added elements that the photographer chose to use. These added elements could be black and white and color elements in one photo, distortion effects created with photo editing software, or any other items that might make the photograph differ from the normal "snapshot."
Instructions
1. Evaluate the technical aspects of the shot. Objects should be in focus without blur or fuzz. Colors should be natural not over-or under-saturated. There should not be bleeding or ghosting around the edges of objects in the picture, lines need to be clean, clear and sharp.
2. Check for graininess, noise or purple fringe around the edge of the photo. Look at the lighting. The photo should not look washed out nor should it be too dark. Details should be visible in the shadows. In photos with buildings or other objects composed of straight lines, make sure they are straight and not distorted.
3. Determine if any variations were intentional or accidental. The subject of the photo may be in focus while the rest of the picture is not in order to make the subject stand out. Color may be under or over-saturated to reflect the subject matter. For example, if the picture is meant to reflect a past event, the colors could be lighter to simulate the look of photographs taken in that time period.
4. Look at the composition of the photo. The viewer's eye should be drawn to the subject. Other elements in the frame should enhance the subject, not make the photo busy and difficult to interpret. Often in a well-composed photo the subject will not be found in the center of a photo but off to the side.
5. Think about how the photo makes you feel. The purpose of art is to stir emotions and make people think. If you have two photographs that are technically correct, choose the one that makes more of an impression. There are lots of pretty pictures, but not all of them are memorable or thought-provoking.
