Get a photo critique!

October 8, 2009 @ 7:29AM

Get a photo critique!

By Haje Jan Kamps

I have been doing Photo Critiques on this blog in the past, but it’s starting to dawn on me that perhaps a blog isn’t quite the right way of doing these, so instead I’d like to start doing them on Flickr.

If you would like me to critique your photographs, here’s how to get on the list…

Follow these steps

1) Get a Flickr account (you should probably do this anyway, it’s free, and Flickr is awesome)

2) Upload 3 photos you’d like me to critique It’s important that you choose three photos, because it’s difficult to give systemic advice on a single photograph. Also, it may be worth not necessarily taking your 3 best photos, but do pick photos that you are proud of, but which you feel might be improved – and yet you don’t know how. NOTE: Nudity and similar themes is perfectly OK, but remember to mark your links with (NSFW) – I don’t want to get my readers in trouble at work or with kids just because they clicked on a wrong link

3) Check your Flickr settings Please ensure that you allow notes on your photos, as these make critiquing much easier for me. Also, the photos have to be of a reasonable size – I can’t critique thumbnails :) If you haven’t turned on notes, I’m afraid I won’t be able to do a critique.

4) Add a comment to this post where the URL leads to your Flickr stream. In the comment itself, please tell add a link to the 3 photos you’d like critiqued on Flickr

5) Pay to skip the queue (optional). You may have spotted that there’s a pretty long wait on these now – I simply don’t have the time to do them all as quickly as I like. If you would like to skip to the top of the queue, and receive your critique within a week – guaranteed – make a donation of $50 via PayPal.

What happens next?

As far as possible, I will follow the structure I’ve outlined in my Doing a Photo Critique article – it’s worth a read if you haven’t yet.

Finally, remember what I said in my ‘dealing with negative photo critiques‘ article – you may not like everything I have to say, but my intention is to help you become a better photographer. If you only want to hear that your photography work is ‘OMG AWESOME LOL’, then you’re not in the right place :)

Also, it’s worth nothing that despite of persistant rumours of the contrary, I’m only human, and I will only do critiques when I feel I can actually make a useful impact – sometimes I may do 3 people in an evening, other times I won’t do any for a while. Partially, it’s because I’m crazy busy with work some times, but sometimes, I’m just plain lazy – do forgive. If you’re desperate for me to critique you immediately, check out step 5 above to find out how you can skip to the top of the queue.

The boring bits

By following the steps above, you give me a non-exclusive license to use your 3 photos as illustration images to a photo critique, if your particular critique somehow works well as a separate article on Photocritic. I will not use your photos in any other circumstance without conferring with you first.

I will pick and choose which photographers to critique first – it’s not meant as an insult if yours sits there for a while while I pick off newer entries first – it may just be that I haven’t got much useful to say about your photos because they already are perfect, or perhaps I’m struggling to vocalise what I like / what I would improve about your particular photos. Don’t take it personally!

Photo: Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Photocritic.org on Flickr

Photo Critiques Competed so far

You don’t have to submit your own photographs for critique, of course, it’s entirely possible to learn huge amounts about photography by reading good critiques of other photographer’s work, so here, I’ve collected the criticisms and praise I’ve done on Flickr so far:

Oct 8 ’09: solofotones - Man with Paper, Street performer and Juntos
Oct 8 ’09: MondoUNC – Sweater Weather, The Virgins and Cupcake.
Oct 1 ’09: ooomidgetmanooo – Portrait 1 and Portrait 2
Oct 1 ’09: HoneyJar – Autumn Leaves, Como Lake from Bellagio and Tulips
Jul 7 ’09: HeraldK – Admiration, Shadows and Irish Coastal Road
May 25 ’09: Jacob Wighton – Ants!, Flight of the Birds and Sneaking!
May 1 ’09: Jack Makio – Ugandan Mother and Child, Dasiy and Plazma light
May 1 ’09: Jeff – The Remarkables and Milford Road
Apr 28 ’09: Jack Fussel – Speckled, Bar Bar Bana and Stunning.
Apr 27 ’09: MrSimbol – Manila by the bay, Business as Usual and High and Dry
Apr 26 ’09: Per – Heavy Lifting, Bench and Martin Luther King Memorial.
Apr 26 ’09: Ilan – (Final) Rest, Man and Together and Alone II
Apr 26 ’09: Mark – Holy Trinity Silhouette, The Long Drive Home and Autumn
Apr 25 ’09: Adricv – Jean-Claude, de Haiti, Puppet Shop and Moving Sculpture
Apr 25 ’09: Gary Kurtz – Photo 1, Photo 2 and Photo 3

There is also a hyper-exclusive invite-only Flickr group where you can see some of the photos I’ve critiqued, called, imaginatively, Critiqued by Photocritic.

Do you enjoy a smattering of random photography links? Well, squire, I welcome thee to join me on Twitter - Follow @Photocritic

Comments

Anonymous

3 years ago

Hello,

I appreciate this a lot, really!

Please, rip into my photos, I know this will help me correct my vision for photography. Next time you’re in Switzerland, you’re up for a beer!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adricv/3222577777/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adricv/2792290679/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adricv/2717454573/ DONE!

I love taking street photos, especially in large cities and of people.

I would much appreciate if you could point out to whatever’s ‘missing’ in those three, for instance. Lately, I’ve been carrying around a small Lomo LC-A for street photography which is much better suited for discreet snaps – the three I’ve linked to I took with my Nikon D40.

Once again, cheers mate!

Anonymous

3 years ago

Thanks for this, this is a great idea. I’ve been photographing as a semi serious hobby for about a year now so all the impartial critiqes I can get will be much appreciated!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markslewis/3459774149/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markslewis/3174394929/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markslewis/2967267242/ DONE!

Anonymous

3 years ago

Such a great offer. :)

Here are three that I like, but know can be better. Tear ‘em up as you’d like.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28445553@N04/3400734651/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28445553@N04/3428831970/ DONE!

As you can see, my primary interest is landscape photography, though you’ll notice a mix of both serious attempts and ‘snapshots’ (when my wife grew less patient with me).

FWIW: These were all taken on the south island of New Zealand, and were taken with a 5D Mark II and L-series Canon lenses.

Thanks!

- Jeff

Anonymous

3 years ago

Hi!
Just saw your offer on Twitter, decided to be brave :)
I’m always up for some critique, prefer much better than just hearing “Great photo!” comments.
But, I’m not going to be “easy” as well – here are my three –

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilan/2944621955/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilan/2405225059/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilan/2137930225/ DONE!

Good luck :)

Anonymous

3 years ago

I’d love to get some critique on these photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/perenstrom/3473201010/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/perenstrom/3472392357/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/perenstrom/3472392049/ DONE!

Anonymous

3 years ago

Wow, this would be awesome. I would love to see where I can improve. I’ve been shooting seriously for about a year and shoot with with Nikon D50.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelingtribe/3468258450/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelingtribe/3456246303/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelingtribe/3275957811/ DONE!

Thanks!

Anonymous

3 years ago

Great idea ta very much

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackmakio1000/2738307885/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackmakio1000/2739130950/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackmakio1000/2283933853/ DONE!

feel free to comment on different ones if you want instead

Anonymous

3 years ago

I came across your blog just a few days ago and I think it’s great!

I thought I’d throw a variety of photos in because those award groups on Flickr (which I despise but still use) offer nothing helpful at all!

Thanks for your offer!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcwighton/3384886834/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcwighton/3162857538/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcwighton/3473235564/ DONE!

Anonymous

3 years ago

This is a great offer! Thank you so much. I’ve been subscribed to this blog via RSS for quite awhile now and really appreciate reading it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/heraldk/320196883/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heraldk/3153548672/ DONE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heraldk/2989565515/ DONE!

Or if you find something more interesting to comment on, that’s cool too.

Robert Brett

7 months ago

Okay, Haje, critique away. Give me a photo roast and kill me with love....

Penny Bortenbox

1 year ago

Oh, this is great. I chose the photographs at random.
I'll be wainting.
Thanks a lot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pnydesign/5515660355/in/pool-1630404@N21/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pnydesign/3836631855/in/pool-1630404@N21/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pnydesign/5127809146/in/pool-1630404@N21/

Anonymous

3 years ago

Hey, I’m Lorna, and I follow you through Bloglines. I’d love to have some insight into improving my photos… these probably aren’t my best, but are ones I’m fond of.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hosiemosie/3402022620/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hosiemosie/3390694882/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hosiemosie/3471058409/

I just bought my first digital SLR a few months ago (Canon 450D) At the moment I feel I have no particular style that is apparent. Though I am participating in a 365 day challenge this year which makes me think about the photos I’m taking more.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Always looking to improve!
I tried to include a wide range of styles.

Thank you in advance!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28795123@N03/3604565594/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28795123@N03/3604564728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28795123@N03/3603745649/

Kevin

Anonymous

2 years ago

I hope I eventually get a response from you, but I understand if it takes a while, there’s such a long waiting list above!

I’m only an amateur photographer and would like to find out if my pictures are any decent…this really means a lot to me…thank you so much!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/janfrancis/3625453257
http://www.flickr.com/photos/janfrancis/3626832663
http://www.flickr.com/photos/janfrancis/2822168970

Anonymous

2 years ago

Not sure I’m creating a link properly… but hopefully it works! I’d appreciate any comments…I need more constructive comments than the “hey great photo!” that I hear from friends and family :o)

I like to do portraits, and I like playing with post processing effects.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33197449@N04/3649751584/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33197449@N04/3649751588/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33197449@N04/3649751594/

Anonymous

2 years ago

Hi, I hope that you enjoy my pictures! They aren’t anything special, but I’ve just got into photography lately. I have a point and shoot camera, but would like to get a better one soon. Any recommendations? Feel free to give me any hints or comments on my pictures, more than just the three I have chosen!! Thanks! Here are my three

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31645449@N02/2962530283/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31645449@N02/3661700232/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31645449@N02/3661741454/

Anonymous

2 years ago

I’ve been in to photography for a while now, but only just recently started getting a little bit more active in it. My best subjects thus far have been a friend’s local band. I would love for you to take a look at a couple of shots and tell me what you think.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kajed/3608198120/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kajed/3607774486/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kajed/3494541150/

Cheers!

Anonymous

2 years ago

Hey! this is such a brilliant idea! thanks a lot for offering this and giving us some of your time :)

I had a hard time deciding on just 3 but here they are.. I think these are the ones I need your opinion about most;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39895672@N03/3668904650/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39895672@N03/3668398083/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39895672@N03/3668398067/

Anonymous

2 years ago

Here are three for your critique:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grtaylor2/3674318030/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grtaylor2/3666445284/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grtaylor2/3631753392/

Anonymous

2 years ago

Hi
This is a great offer thanks
Here are my photos from the flickr site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21654792@N03/3692579308/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21654792@N03/3675227757/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21654792@N03/3347572681/

Anonymous

2 years ago

I’d love a critique, when you get a chance. Sooo hard to pick just three photos, however.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan_h/3716091598/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan_h/3639527458/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan_h/3638717515/

Anonymous

2 years ago

Thanks for the opportunity to submit several of my images for your critique. I think the following three are representative of my current work. I retired five years ago and embraced photography as a way to keep my mind fresh and my spirits high.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greatestpaka/3722417666
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greatestpaka/2416173309
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greatestpaka/2847443128

Anonymous

3 years ago

Just found this in my RSS reader after being offline for a month from moving house.

What a generous offer! I’ve chosen 3 portraits. That’s my favourite thing to do. I chose them because at first I was really impressed, yet each time I look at them I think less of them – I’m like this with all my photos, but these ones I was initially really proud of.

I’m trying to break out from the traditional posed route, but without having access to paid models etc. it’s proving difficult to find willing persons who are happy to stay for more than one photo. I’m hoping you might critique them so that I have some thoughts in mind next time I get the opportunity for some more portraits…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_wolf_brigade/3354319089/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_wolf_brigade/3283615492/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_wolf_brigade/3124995662/

Anonymous

2 years ago

Thanks very much Haje for offering to critique readers photographs. I hope that you can find some time to have a look at mine.

Here are my three images:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40371633@N02/3727235914/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40371633@N02/3721086292/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40371633@N02/3713276151/

Cheers
Stew

Anonymous

2 years ago

Hello
a lot of people already willing to be criticised
I’m taking the jump too
Please be my guest for those 3

http://www.flickr.com/photos/esquimo_2ooo/2007227965/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/esquimo_2ooo/2863708710/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/esquimo_2ooo/2816035824/

Thank you and hope to see what you think about it

Anonymous

2 years ago

Hey, this is a great idea! Please look at some of mine, I’m really not sure what to do. Thanks!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathankizer/3580318520/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathankizer/3579504537/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathankizer/3728665948/

Thanks, and I look forward to your thoughts/comments!

Anonymous

2 years ago

Being a fledgling in photography and being armed with a mere Minolta Memory Maker and a Cellphone I know my photos aren’t very good, but I still have several that I feel might be at least decent with some tweaking.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocdcolouredgun/3744539554/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocdcolouredgun/3743945423/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocdcolouredgun/3744539516/

Thanks, especially if you get a chance to peer at them- Otherwise still thanks, learn alot from this site.

Anonymous

2 years ago

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40175960@N02/3697145256/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40175960@N02/3744307101/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40175960@N02/3744280681/

I look forward to your critique, Thank you.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Greetings,

I am AJ Hasan! I am budding photoenthusiast looking for all the help I can get. A critique if you will???… I would be honored to hear feedback on my images…

As requested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aj3/3751244498/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aj3/3719178359/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aj3/3627463677/sizes/l/

I appreciate your help! Thank you for a great website.

Anonymous

2 years ago

I’m new to your blog and I’m here to stay!
I’d though I would take a shot at this. Thank you for the opportunity!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trazomfreak/3011555209/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trazomfreak/433037739/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trazomfreak/383356208/

If you get to mine, I can wait to hear/see what you have to say. (I’m ready.) Thank you so very much for your time!
-Amanda Y.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Name: P-C

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38730011@N05/3844721979/ (retouched)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38730011@N05/3562263464/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38730011@N05/3751214325/

Thanks in advance, looking forward to hearing your opinion!

Ciao!
P-C

Anonymous

2 years ago

http://flickr.com/photos/kushdarkroom/3924871947/
http://flickr.com/photos/kushdarkroom/3814543364/
http://flickr.com/photos/kushdarkroom/3921277235/

Thank you!

David

Anonymous

2 years ago

Thanks for being willing to critique!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10020109@N05/3960674082/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10020109@N05/3959907813/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10020109@N05/3960684392/

Thanks again.
-Hannah F.

Anonymous

3 years ago

Great Idea, I’ll try to get judged, if you dare :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/albyspace/3202066084/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/albyspace/3019273595/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/albyspace/2656665755/

Anonymous

2 years ago

http://flickr.com/moniamac/3100597875
http://flickr.com/moniamac/3877741559
http://flickr.com/moniamac/3438531061

Thank you,

Monia

Anonymous

2 years ago

Please

http://flickr.com/13235562@N04/3099081941/
http://flickr.com/13235562@N04/2871161900/
http://flickr.com/13235562@N04/3364230881/

Thanks in advance
—-

Rejetto

Anonymous

2 years ago

I would love that you look at this three photos:

http://flickr.com/chiky/3979284614
http://flickr.com/chiky/3568521379
http://flickr.com/chiky/3836773446

Thanks!

Anonymous

2 years ago

So what if it’s a long queue, at some point my photos will be critiqued :)

http://flickr.com/zmurfu/3992862953/
http://flickr.com/zmurfu/3950188954/
http://flickr.com/zmurfu/3927241290/

Cheers mate!

Anonymous

2 years ago

Thank you for your wonderful work.
Please critique these 3 of mine:

http://flickr.com/30389326@N05/3982279941/
http://flickr.com/30389326@N05/3613321318/
http://flickr.com/30389326@N05/3952859810/

Anonymous

2 years ago

Hey,
I’m desperately looking for critiques on my photos, so I was really excited to see this post. My 3 photos are:

http://flickr.com/43229181@N05/3983568426/
http://flickr.com/43229181@N05/3983575340/
http://flickr.com/43229181@N05/3986481893/

This was done as an exercise in bracketing. I tried to use just exposure to create two totally separate compositions.

Thanks!

Anonymous

2 years ago

I said your website looked like a “clown barfed after it had eaten too much candy” you can butcher me now!

http://flickr.com/nwalkner/2681266407
http://flickr.com/nwalkner/3433272961
http://flickr.com/nwalkner/3416041451

Anonymous

2 years ago

Id love a critique. Thanks so much!

http://flickr.com/adamtowner/3968774155
http://flickr.com/adamtowner/3969565334
http://flickr.com/adamtowner/3968821921

Anonymous

2 years ago

Any feedback would be much appreciated:

http://flickr.com/erindubitably/3810656993
http://flickr.com/erindubitably/3503546683
http://flickr.com/erindubitably/3401939108

Anonymous

2 years ago

Thanks for the initiative!

http://flickr.com/julesthegreat/3993341219
http://flickr.com/julesthegreat/3941886677
http://flickr.com/julesthegreat/3691932438

BR,
Stefaan

Anonymous

3 years ago

Oh, great offer, thanks. Sometimes it can be difficult to get an honest critique from Flickr friends, so I appreciate this offer.

I’d like to improve my landscape photography, but I also have a penchant for juxtapositions, so these 3 should give you some idea of what I typically shoot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zyrc/3375648759/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zyrc/3465541117/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zyrc/3376468636/

Anonymous

2 years ago

Thanks for keeping this up! :) Still learning a lot from your critic and will go through the latest ones.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Hey if you can get to these that would be awesome!

http://flickr.com/hemler/4003102003/
http://flickr.com/hemler/4003088471/
http://flickr.com/hemler/4003087469/

Anonymous

2 years ago

Thank you very much for doing this, I’ve been looking for a serious critique of some of my shots for a while now!

http://flickr.com/34732363@N04/4003780572
http://flickr.com/34732363@N04/3925487012
http://flickr.com/34732363@N04/3915137748