oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

I have a specific question for the group. I was always taught that when cropping a photo with action you needed to leave room to show direction of the action. Because most of my work has been things such as birds in flight or BIF getting ready to move I assumed this general rule would apply to any action photo.

I shot my first rodeo Saturday night and when I cropped these shots I did so as I would do with BIF. My first and third photo shows what I am trying to say probably better than I am explaining this.

I posted some photos in the gallery for C&C and many replied with the same comment, crop closer or tighter. I did this with the second and fourth photos.

My question is which way is better to crop? Is there a general guide? I normally shoot and crop to the photos original size, which maintains the photos size.

I don’t sell my work but do print for friends and family on occasion. I guess this question is mainly directed towards the professional members of this group who do print and sell their work.

Which way would you crop this type of photo? I can post the original if you would like.

BTW, I posted to this section because it is a specific question about a specific problem. I really don’t care if it gets moved as long as I get an answer.

Jim D

Trippmeister Loc: Los Gatos, CA

Looks like you needed to straighten while cropping, judging by the fence. I like the less tight ones.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Thank you, excellent point about straightening. For some reason I seem to keep forgetting about doing that. I had close to a thousand photos to go thru and got about a hundred possible keepers. I will go thru them and correct that.

I prefer the more open crop also but 90% of the C&C I got all said to tighten it. That is why I posted the question.

Jim D

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Here are the photos straightened.

Jim D

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I think that the suggestion about "leaving room to move into" is more geared towards things that we associate with forward movement; running, biking, driving, flying, etc.

We expect that when the subject is performing those actions that they need room to "move into" and it looks correct.

These bulls are jumping up and down bucking and in my opinion, don't need that....the motion is different and subject is different and that's the reason why people said crop tighter.

I also would have said to crop tighter...the action is the cowboy and bull...

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

First of all, nice photos, Jim. You're doing a great job of catching the action!
I like your "tighter" crop better, and would go with that if we're talking about "final edit prints". If I were your photo editor going to publication, I would appreciate having your "looser" crop photos in front of me.
BTW: the general rule of leaving room for the subject to "move" into applies equally to many static photos. A portrait of a person looking to the left will (usually) be best with extra room to the left.
Good job! Thanks for posting.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Ahh...good catch, I forgot that one.

RMM Loc: Suburban New York

If I read your original post correctly, you like to retain the same aspect ratio, i.e., probably 2:3. If that's the case, there isn't a lot of room for cropping here because the cowboy on top of the bull pretty much fills the frame vertically. You do need some air around the picture. In the first photo, you could get a tight vertical shot of the cowboy to just right of the bull's nose with that ratio.

You could, I'm not saying you should.

infoGCCT Loc: Gold Coast, Qld Australia

I looked at your photo and this would be my personal thoughts on how your photo should be presented both much tighter than your original. But remember everybody has different views on what is good and what is better. It's all subjective.

gerhel Loc: Sweden

If you google bull riding pictures you will get a lot of info by looking at them and most seems to be very tightly cropped except when they are telling a story i.e. the clown at work, where you will have a looser crop. This can give you a guidence on how to set up your picture. But most of all it is your experience you are shooting so you will get the last shot

normanhall Loc: Leslie Missouri

I think the ones that are cropped less tightly are the best. however think the tight ones are good as well. to me it is what you are wanting the viewer to see here. the tighter ones gives you a little closer look at the rider which i like.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Rodeo photos are hard to critique when the subject is this good. For me personally I like to see a little more around the main subject to give a little more sense of the activity. Then the tighter the crop the more emphasis is placed on the one part of the action.

Overall, these photos could be cropped in many different ways and still be good, they would just be "telling" a different part of the story.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

A bit off topic, but I gotta say, coming from a family who rode bulls (uncles and father, not me) I agree with what my uncle says. All the padding, and especially the helmet with the face mask, just ruin bullriding for me. I know it is about safety, but it now looks like they are playing football, and the lack of danger of the sport makes it not nearly as exciting. Of course, you should see those guys trying to walk these days. Not pretty.

The shots are nice, but I'd never want to hang a picture of that second rider especially. Looks more like a "Dallas Cowboy" than a real cowboy.

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

just look at what you have and see which one you like best.
the last one of the first set works for me...but agreed will look better straightened

JimKing Loc: Salisbury, Maryland USA

I believe that a single framed photo could be done tight or loose and be equally good. I prefer the looser crops with more room in front. If you're creating a series then I would certainly include the very tight crops and wide shots of the arena.
This is only opinion. As you have read above opinions vary.