Room for cropping
Feb 1, 2018 06:02:29 #
I think about composition before I take the photo, but if I am at the limits of the lens focal length, I know that I can always crop a little later on.
Feb 1, 2018 06:16:46 #
gvarner wrote:
I see this all the time, leave some room for cropping. Is there a guide that any of you use? Thanks.
I think that you leave room for cropping because of aspect ratio, when you go to print different size prints it makes a difference, I think! Someone please tell me if I am wrong. Thanks
Tom
Feb 1, 2018 06:49:01 #
gvarner wrote:
I see this all the time, leave some room for cropping. Is there a guide that any of you use? Thanks.
Having used a 2-1/4 square extensively in the 90s I used to consider it more. I do consider the eventual print size...i.e. 8x10, 11x14, 16x20. 24x36 aspect ratio is equivalent to 8x12.....
Feb 1, 2018 07:03:11 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
gvarner wrote:
I see this all the time, leave some room for cropping. Is there a guide that any of you use? Thanks.
On the other hand, I print every thing full out. 4X6, 8X12, 12X18, 16X24, and 20X30. So, with my zoom, I crop with it in the camera and print exactly what I see in the viewfinder. Makes things easier. Of course, even with this method their may be adjustments in post.
Feb 1, 2018 07:15:57 #
Delderby wrote:
It may just be that "leave some room for cropping" is advice given with printing in mind - especially when printing to the oft used dimensions of 10x8", 7x5", 6x4" - rather than cut off the cat's ears. 
I found this out recently. Printing at 4x6 was perfect but enlarging to 8X10 had two options: 1) add some borders top and bottom or 2) cut people's shoulders off on the left and right of a group shot. If I could've done this over, I would definitely give some room for cropping!
Feb 1, 2018 07:18:22 #
I have found that my camera with a 1" sensor allows for more cropping than my camera with a 1/2" sensor. When shooting with the 1/2" sensor I frame as tightly as possible so cropping is minimized.
Feb 1, 2018 07:49:23 #
I used a Nikon F4 for many years whose viewfinder showed "100%" of the "final" image as opposed to earlier Nikons I used. Like Linda, I heard that I should "watch the edges" and "fill the frame", but I only shot slide film. I noticed sometimes that part of an element that I composed near the edge would be "lost" because the slide mount would "hide it." My FX Nikons still have "100%" viewfinders, but out of old habit, I not longer compose all that tight "just in case." But when I print, I "only" print full aspect ratio, 8x12 NOT 8x10, etc.
Feb 1, 2018 08:44:12 #
I shoot/pp to a 2:3 ratio. I always leave a little room on stationary subjects since I usually make 11 X 14" prints. If I am shooting anything that moves fast or erratic (sports) I leave quite a bit more room to crop, again if I do print it is usually at 11 X 14". I too hate to sacrifice vital parts of a subject. I also want to leave some room to "place" the subject in the frame and shoot accordingly. Just my input.
gvarner wrote:
I see this all the time, leave some room for cropping. Is there a guide that any of you use? Thanks.
Feb 1, 2018 08:54:22 #
gvarner wrote:
I see this all the time, leave some room for cropping. Is there a guide that any of you use? Thanks.
I probably crop 90% of my images. Frequently it's just one edge (or one edge pair) because I don't like to be limited to a given aspect ratio. Frequently my lens is too short and I have to crop to get the subject I want. (I shoot events so I don't always have time to change lenses, or sometimes even turn the zoom ring). Frequently I leave some room for cropping because then I can take my time to crop the way I want it rather than stand there while a shot evaporates in front of me while I'm trying to decide just how to compost it in the viewfinder.
Feb 1, 2018 09:43:47 #
There are likely more but right away I think of two valid reasons for cropping the first is where you only have too short a lens and cannot change your position as aboard a boat for example and, second, when you want to post process to correct for the "keystoning" effects upon buildings when shooting upwards.
Feb 1, 2018 09:58:06 #
HarryBinNC
Loc: Blue Ridge Mtns, No.Carolina, USA
DirtFarmer wrote:
I probably crop 90% of my images. Frequently it's ... (show quote)
I second that! And when I'm out of the city doing landscapes, I almost always flip my D800 into portrait mode and do about four to 8 shot panos keeping in mind multiple conventional images that can be pulled out of the big panos. The intention to crop is what makes me keep on keeping that big beast of a camera.
Feb 1, 2018 10:32:40 #
Kmgw9v wrote:
I compose in the viewfinder when I take the shot.
That doesn't preclude from cropping when I post-process.
There are pictures within pictures.
That doesn't preclude from cropping when I post-process.
There are pictures within pictures.
Indeed
Feb 1, 2018 10:34:31 #
I have wood mounts made at Art.com of some of my shots. I am careful to not over crop before I submit to them. They seem to crop a little, not much, for their process.
gvarner wrote:
I see this all the time, leave some room for cropping. Is there a guide that any of you use? Thanks.
Feb 1, 2018 11:04:30 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Having spent a lot of years with 35mm film, it's s... (show quote)
Those old film lessons die hard, but they're often superseded by the advantages of digital cameras. Check out these three images. Don't rush from one to the next; move slowly. Notice that the set derives from one image, an image of the shopping district of Vienna. My 39 megapixel camera allowed me to get the three images from one shot. I used this series in a presentation I did, titled "Crop Till You Drop." I believe it. Why would we not make use of our advanced gear?
BTW, in the presentation I used three more images from the one original. I've only included three here as I feel they make my point and save you some viewing.
Feb 1, 2018 11:15:20 #
I am a portrait photographer and years ago made the mistake of composing the shot I wanted with wonderful results out of the camera and then having my client request an 8x10 which ended up cutting two of their children out of the shot (they had seven children). After that, I learned to “leave room for cropping”. The size of the sensor doesn’t match every size of print out there. Also, when making gallery wraps there needs to be an extra 3 inches of canvas to wrap around the frame. I get tired of extending canvases in Photoshop. Easier to leave a little more room around the subject instead. :) Seems like there could be two different threads about this subject. One for portrait photography and one for landscape photography.
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