How To Evaluate Photographs So You Can Tell The Difference Between High Quality and Low Quality Photographic Work
Copyright (c) 2003 by David Horland. All rights reserved.
Here is a list of things to look for that will help you to judge high quality and low quality photographic work. Keep in mind that to have really high quality photographic work, the photographer needs to "get it right" when he creates the photograph. If the negative is not properly exposed, no amount of digital imaging or computer manipulation can help it. We live in a day and age where many people think that the computer can fix anything and everything. This is just not true.
#1. Overall, does the photograph look too dark? This is a common problem with inexperienced photographers. Photos that are too dark will have a black or near-black tone over the whole picture. If the photographer used a wide angle lens, you'll see that the corners are darker than the middle of the picture. This means the film has been under exposed. You can spot a "too-dark" photo by looking at the skin tones, they will go completely black in the darkest areas.
#2. Overall, does the photograph look too light? This means over exposure and you will see pale white faces. The picture will look "too bright", "too white" or washed out.
#3. Look at what's in the frame and what's not. Does the picture have cut off heads on top, cut off shoulders on the sides? Does the picture have any cut off limps at the joints? (This really doesn't look good). Are there any poles or objects growing out of peoples heads?
#4. Look at angles. Do the angles look pleasing to your eye? Is the picture well thought out, or jumbled together? Did the photographer fire his flash into a mirror or other shiny object and cause a hot spot (big or small white spot, or burnt out spot) on the photograph? The untrained eye normally doesn't see hot spots until it's pointed out.
#5. Look at expressions. Do the people look good? Do the appear happy? Are the faces clear? Does the picture capture any emotions? Does it capture the essence or the personality of the people or event? Does the photograph evoke a mood? Does the posing look natural? Does the photograph have balance to it? What's balance? Balance means you are looking for evenness and spacing in the photograph, with regard to people and objects in the photo.
#6. Look at the skin tones. Are the faces clear of pimples and blemishes? Do you see any bags under the eyes? The way to clear this up is to have the photographer retouch the photos. But mention it at the beginning of the portrait process because some photographer's won't take the time to explain the differences to you. If your photographer uses 35mm film and you wait until after the photos are taken to say "Oh, by the way, I want these photos retouched so they look the best they can be", guess what? It's to late. 35mm film can't be retouched. Why? Because the negative is too small.
You need to tell the photographer that you expect your photos to be retouched, before any pictures are taken. This way the photographer will use a larger format negative that can be retouched. Many photographer's that think "low-end" will just go ahead and use 35mm film without asking if you want retouching. Some photographer's don't want to do any retouching because it will increase the price you pay and they are worried that you are too price sensitive and won't go ahead will the photography session. Basically, this type of photographer simply lacks confidence in his work.
If you do get into the situation where 35mm film was used and you want retouching, you only have one option. That is to have the photographer use digital imaging to manipulate the photograph on a computer. This can be done, but it will cost you quite a bit more than if the photographer had used a larger film format and did facial retouching in the first place.
Make sure you understand the difference between "retouching" a photograph and "touching up" a photograph. There is a difference that many photographer's won't take the time to explain to you. If the photographer says "I'll touch it up", that's not "retouching" and it won't remove pimples, blemishes and bags under the eyes.
"Touching up" a photograph simply means to remove what is called "production dust spots" witch occur because of a poor quality print job. "Dust spots" as they are commonly called, are caused when a dusty negative is printed.
You will see this from time to time from a one hour photo processor. "Dust spots" show up on the surface of your photo and they look like tiny fine white specs or lines or hairs. I know you have seen this from time to time when you pick up your photos from a one hour processor. It means that they didn't blow all the dust off the negative before printing it. That dust shows up on the surface of your photos as fine white specs as described above.
So the next time you hear a photographer talk about "touching up your photos, BEWARE: "Touching up" will only remove the white spots, created by a poor printing job, witch should not be on your photos to begin with. "Touching up" is basically a term used to fool you! You want "retouching". This will actually remove pimples and blemishes from the face!
#7. Look for shadows. High quality photography doesn't have any dark or black shadows to the sides of heads or in back of heads. I'm talking about family and children's portraits right now. (Also business and executive portraits). I'm sure you have seen portraits of people in magazines where half the face was in shadow or completely black. This is okay when you desire that type of effect, but it's not what most people want for kids and family portraits. Business folks don't want shadows either.
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