Typically, people have four criteria for judging photographs: these are: Impact, Technical Quality, Design/Composition, Image Quality.

• Is a strong mood displayed?
• Has a old idea been presented in a new way?
• Has the photographer showed us unusual lighting, color, or arrangement?
• Is the presentation creative?

TECHNICAL QUALITY
The photograph should be technically well done.

• Has the appropriate selection of aperture, shutter speed, and focus been made for the theme selected?
• Is the image sharp and well exposed?
• Are soft delicate elements lighted softly and with correct contrast?
• Are low key themes given a low key exposure, and high key themes given a high key exposure?
• Has motion been given an appropriate selection of shutter speed and aperture?
• Is the selective focus area too shallow or too deep?

• Does the arrangement of the selected elements provide a well organized presentation?
• Have the principles of design been applied?
• Is there a dominant theme with a subordinate contrasting theme?
• Does the photograph express harmony of idea, color, form, line etc.?
• Do the selected elements provide a good visual balance?
• Is there repetition of shape, line, color, mass, with some variation and contrast?
• Are the elements well proportioned?
• Does the use of light and dark, or the position and shape of elements keep the eye in the frame?
• Is the symbolism, the connotation, and other figurative representations coherent with the selected theme?

QUALITY
Good quality, rather than novelty, sustains a presentation during repeated viewings.

• Is the impact fleeting or does it endure?
• Is the photograph still effective the second and third time you view it?

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