1. Photo Critique: 3 Basics
A good photograph has a clear subject.
A good photograph focuses attention on the subject.
A good photograph simplifies.

2. A good photograph has a clear subject.
Know what you want your subject (or theme, or story) to be.
Make sure the viewer knows it too.
Can be a person, thing, group, action, concept, etc.
Must be unambiguous.
Universality is always good (wonder, humanity, love, beauty, strength, etc.).

3. A good photograph focuses attention on the subject.
Size and position of the subject.
Lighting and contrast of the subject.
Focus and depth of field.
Relation to the rest of the image/background.
Cropping, vignetting.

4. A good photograph simplifies.
The entire frame makes up the image, edge-to-edge, corner-to-corner.
Eliminate clutter.
Eliminate distractions.
Ponder the background.

5. Don’t let anyone convince you