The contest was the use the Ultimate Photography Critiquing Guide to critique the photos that won our “End of Story” photography contest. Since we only had 17 critiques, we are basing how many subscriptions we are giving out on that. So in the end two people will win a 3 month subscription, and one person will win a one month.

The winners were based on 4 concepts found in the Ultimate Photography Critiquing Guide.
1. Interpretation
2. Compliments
3. Critiques
4. Questions

You will find the following three critiques, one from each critique winner, and each critique being on one of the three photographs. The following three critiques are outlined in 4 different colors, each representing the four different areas of giving a good critique.

1. Interpretation [Yellow]- Interpretation is how this image makes you feel, what it says to you, how you relate to the image. Some questions that might arise when interpreting a photograph:
How does this image make me feel?
What message is conveyed in the image?
How do I connect with or relate to the image?
Is there an emotion or story attached to the photo, and does the photographer do a good job conveying it?

2. Compliments [Blue]- Compliments build the artists confidence by telling them exactly what you like about the photograph.
Why do you love it?
What caught your eye?

3. Critiques [Red]- Find something that might help the artist with his or her future work. Or find something that can be easily changed. It is ok to point out the errors even if you do not know the artistic term for it. Just remember to be polite. Critiques can also be telling the artist what technical aspects of the photo you enjoyed. Critiques don’t always have to be pointing out errors or room for improvement, they can also be used point out good technique, and good choices. Which parts of a photograph can be critiqued? Here are a few:

I. Composition
II. Colors and Lighting
III. Contrast
IV. Depth of Field
V. Perspective

4. Questions [Green]- Learn from other artists. Is there something in the image that you don’t know how it was achieved? Ask about it! This expresses a genuine interest. Questions are what makes deviantART a community and not just an online portfolio.

Now, onto the winners!
FairyStar took the time to really go into detail on all three photographs. She expressed how the photo made her feel, and took the time to look at every detail, commenting on how it went together. For her three wonderful critiques, she won a 3 months subscription. Now, let’s see what she had to say on


Check out her other critiques on Days Are Gone and And They Lived Ever After


Misterlawrie provided three very powerful critiques. In each one he took into account not only the photograph and how it made him feel, but also the story that the photographer was trying to convey. For his three in depth critiques, he won a 3 month subscription!
Let’s see what he has to say about


Check out his other critiques on Days Are Gone and End of Story

Itti wins a 1 month subscription for one really great critique! The details in her critique make you look back over the photograph with a new perspective, seeing things that you didn’t notice before. Let’s take a look at her critique on



Winners, please contact and let her know if you would like the subscription for yourself or for a friend

To all those who have joined recently but haven't been able to submit your photos to our gallery. Please resend the photos you would like to submit, and we will get to them as soon as possible