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Photo Critiques

PhotoZAP!

Constructive criticism to help you become a better photographer. Everyone can use a good ZAP!

By Mason Resnick - October 19, 2009

Welcome to PhotoZAP!

Welcome to PhotoZAP, where reader-submitted near-masterpieces are subjected to the slings and arrows of our team of photography experts. Read our scathing critiques and unmitigated praise! The goal, of course, is to learn something about composition, technique and those little details that can make or break a photograph.

Every week, we select two or three photos to critique. Those whose photos we use get a $25 gift certificate that can be used to buy stuff from Adorama.com. Want to submit a shot to be considered for a ZAP? Read our Call for Entries for all the details.

Think we're full of it, and that our comments are way off base? Let us and the world know! Leave your response in the comments section of each ZAP.

Our thanks to the hundreds of readers who have contributed sometimes outstanding and sometimes ZAP-worthy images for our consideration so far. Only a small percentage are actually critiqued but we appreciate every entry. Keep 'em coming!

Bookmark this page, add it to your RSS feed, and come back often. Your photos and comments are always welcome!

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PhotoZAP canon portrait photo critique photography tip nikon photography photo tips photography tips landscapes people photoshop action action photography composition flash HDR HDRI Nikon D90 outdoor lighting outdoor photography outdoors photo technique photoshop techniques posing sports sports photography sunset action sports adobe beach children close-up curves DSLR D-SLR electronic viewfinder environmental fisheye flower

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PhotoZAP 35: Tree Hugger

Our critics praise and pan your pictures

ArticlePhoto Critiques Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, 1 day ago

“Remember, when shooting portraits like this, to simplify.”—Mason Resnick

PhotoZAP 34: Stranger in the Night

Our critics praise and pan your pictures

ArticlePhoto Critiques Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, 5 days ago

view Comments (7)

"I can’t see, from a technical perspective, how the photographer pulled this off as a single shot." —Mason Resnick

TAGS: canon, photoshop, night, PhotoZAP

PhotoZAP 33: Y-M-C-A!

Our critics praise and pan your pictures

ArticlePhoto Critiques Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, 8 days ago

view Comments (2)

"Shooting in a photojournalistic style is a great and popular approach for wedding photography, but to do it successfully, a photographer needs to remember the lessons of good composition, and moving your location to capture the action." –Monica CipnicRead more

TAGS: canon, photography, wedding, composition, action, wedding photography, weddings, photography tips, photography tip

PhotoZAP 32: The View From Kilimanjaro

Our critics praise and pan your pictures

ArticlePhoto Critiques Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, 12 days ago

“This is a great shot from a pocketable camera!” —Jack Howard

TAGS: outdoors, outdoor lighting, outdoor photography, rugged

PhotoZAP 31: Night or Day?

Our critics praise and pan your pictures

ArticlePhoto Critiques Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, 15 days ago

view Comments (8)

"Overall, there's just too much darkness in this frame."—Jack Howard

TAGS: landscapes, sepia, photo critique

PhotoZAP 30: Tequila Sunset

Our critics praise and pan your pictures

ArticlePhoto Critiques Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, 19 days ago

view Comments (6)

“What's not to love about a perfectly executed silhouette shot against a gorgeous sky?” —Jack Howard

TAGS: nikon, DSLR, landscapes, sunset, D-SLR, photo technique, photography tip, PhotoZAP, photo critique

PhotoZAP 29: Dude!

Our critics praise and pan your pictures

ArticlePhoto Critiques Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, 22 days ago

view Comments (9)

“This image is simultaneously a very charming kid photo and disturbingly incongruous.”—Mason Resnick

TAGS: canon, portrait, outdoors, outdoor lighting, outdoor photography, children, Tamron, PhotoZAP, photo critique

PhotoZAP 28: Simply Red

Our critics praise and pan your pictures

ArticlePhoto Critiques Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, 26 days ago

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“The photographer has captured his young daughter in a natural, unposed, and thoroughly unselfconscious way.”—Monica Cipnic

TAGS: portrait, photo, photography tip, prime lens, posing, photo critique

PhotoZAP 27: The Bokeh Master

Our critics praise and pan your pictures

ArticlePhoto Critiques Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, 29 days ago

view Comments (4)

“There are so many terrible photographs of house cats on the web, that it is so refreshing to see a creative, crisp, shot of a fuzzy feline subject!”—Jack Howard

PhotoZAP 26: Welcome to my world

Our critics praise and pan your pictures

ArticlePhoto Critiques Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, January 7, 2010

view Comments (1)

“While the amazing clutter in the woman’s apartment is an essential part of this picture, I think the photographer could have organized it better.”—Mason Resnick

TAGS: canon, portrait, wide angle, environmental