Photo Critique of the Week

What makes a photo work? When is an image considered successful? In this weekly series, photography expert Steve Simon critiques images captured by all levels of photographers, from hobbyist to professional. He provides insights about how the elements in an image affect its interpretation so you can decide what to include—and exclude—from the frame when out shooting or when cropping in post. Additionally, he shares technical and non-technical remarks, covering choices like aperture, shutter speed, and lighting. As he reviews images, he notes the strengths exhibited while also identifying opportunities for refinement, and points out changes that could vary the meaning conveyed in the final image.