This paper presents stress distribution around a central crack tip in a tensile plate using phase-shifting photoelasticity and a power series stress function. Isochromatic data along the straight lines far from the crack tip were obtained by phase shifting photoelasticity and were used as input data of the hybrid experimental analysis. By using the complex-type power series stress equations, the photoelastic stress distribution fields in the vicinity of the crack and the mode I stress intensity factor were obtained. With the help of image processing software, accuracy and reliability was enhanced by twice multiplying and sharpening the measured isochromatics. Actual and reconstructed fringes were compared qualitatively. For quantitative comparison, percentage errors and standard deviations of the percentage errors were calculated for all measured input data by varying the number of terms in the stress function. The experimental results agreed with those predicted by finite element analysis and empirical equation within 2 percent error.