Is there a technical checklist for critiquing a photograph?

There isn’t one universal checklist, but there are common technical criteria many reviewers use.

A practical checklist includes:

• focus and sharpness: is the intended subject sharp, and is depth of field appropriate?
• composition/framing: is the image balanced or intentionally unbalanced, with the subject well placed and isolated?
• exposure: avoid blown highlights and blocked shadows unless intentional
• noise: is noise acceptable at full size?
• compression/artifacts: avoid excessive JPEG artifacts or overprocessing
• resolution/detail: does the file contain enough usable detail?
• chromatic aberration: is color fringing minimized?
• vignetting: is it absent, subtle, or clearly intentional?
• color balance: are colors and white balance believable or purposeful?
• lighting: does the light suit the subject and support the image?

Broader judging frameworks also include less purely technical factors. The PPA’s well-known 12 judging elements are: impact, technical excellence, creativity, style, composition, presentation, color balance, center of interest, lighting, subject matter, technique, and storytelling.

So the best answer is: use a checklist, but split it into two parts—technical quality and overall image effectiveness.