Less is More
Nov 20, 2017 17:13:10 #
I am seldom satisfied with any photo that I've left uncropped. If you publish a photo just as it came from the camera and are happy----well, bless your heart, as you are an absolute artist. here is an example of a ho-hum shot that I feel was greatly improved by cropping. What is your opinion?
Nov 20, 2017 17:27:28 #
Streets wrote:
I am seldom satisfied with any photo that I've left uncropped. If you publish a photo just as it came from the camera and are happy----well, bless your heart, as you are an absolute artist. here is an example of a ho-hum shot that I feel was greatly improved by cropping. What is your opinion?
Most times I fill the frame with the image I am creating.If I feel I can improve it with cropping in post processing, I do crop.
I like your cropped image much better than out of the camera image.
Nov 20, 2017 17:29:38 #
Nov 20, 2017 19:43:58 #
I agree with your premise. I would have cropped more of a protraitl to leave in the action of the cascade. Maybe check for vertical alignment. Seems to be leaning to the right. Nice shot.
Nov 20, 2017 21:39:44 #
The cropped version is much better. That is not to say that one shouldn't strive for good composition in camera simply because images can be cropped.
Nov 21, 2017 07:59:02 #
Nov 21, 2017 10:09:06 #
Your crop emphasizes the tangle of vegetation in the middle of the water, which for me is the least interesting aspect of this scene.
Filling the frame with your subject (or story), as mentioned by PixelStan, is a good habit because you aren't throwing away pixels. And it forces you to stop and think about what it is you're actually trying to capture, to discover the best perspective or viewpoint, to check the edges of the frame for unwanted intrusions.
Cropping after shooting is necessary when you couldn't move an element out of the way of your preferred composition, or the aspect ratio of your sensor gives you more of "something" (sky, for instance) than you want in the final image, or your lens doesn't reach quite far enough.
Cropping is also fun when it results in an entirely different story from the original framing. To say that cropping is always necessary (Jerry??), i.e. that no one can frame a composition skillfully when looking through the viewfinder, is simplistic and a disservice to those new to the art.
Filling the frame with your subject (or story), as mentioned by PixelStan, is a good habit because you aren't throwing away pixels. And it forces you to stop and think about what it is you're actually trying to capture, to discover the best perspective or viewpoint, to check the edges of the frame for unwanted intrusions.
Cropping after shooting is necessary when you couldn't move an element out of the way of your preferred composition, or the aspect ratio of your sensor gives you more of "something" (sky, for instance) than you want in the final image, or your lens doesn't reach quite far enough.
Cropping is also fun when it results in an entirely different story from the original framing. To say that cropping is always necessary (Jerry??), i.e. that no one can frame a composition skillfully when looking through the viewfinder, is simplistic and a disservice to those new to the art.
Nov 21, 2017 15:00:58 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Your crop emphasizes the tangle of vegetation in t... (show quote)
This happened to be a primative area in Oklahoma and not a manicured English Garden, the little island surrounded by the stream IS the focal point. Sorry you disapprove.
Nov 21, 2017 15:08:12 #
Streets wrote:
This happened to be a primative area in Oklahoma and not a manicured English Garden, the little island surrounded by the stream IS the focal point. Sorry you disapprove.
No need for you to be sorry. But just so we're on the same page, when you asked, "What is your opinion?" what did you mean exactly?
Nov 21, 2017 15:47:20 #
Nov 21, 2017 16:54:26 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
No need for you to be sorry. But just so we're on the same page, when you asked, "What is your opinion?" what did you mean exactly?
I was actually referring to the cropped image vs. the uncropped. Which image looked the most appealing. One contributor liked the uncropped and the others favored the cropped, so far. To me, the biggest image problems are too much foreground and too much sky.
Nov 21, 2017 17:19:36 #
I agree cropping does have it's benefits, but cropping what you yourself called a ho-hum image just leaves you with a narrower ho-hum image and I say that respectfully. How do you feel it's been improved Streets? The clarity and colour are wonderful but did you gain anything in interest or composition by doing this?
Nov 21, 2017 18:14:12 #
Islandgal wrote:
I agree cropping does have it's benefits, but cropping what you yourself called a ho-hum image just leaves you with a narrower ho-hum image and I say that respectfully. How do you feel it's been improved Streets? The clarity and colour are wonderful but did you gain anything in interest or composition by doing this?
I like the cropped image more. I would imagine that compared to the wonders of your area, this image would seem bland. Oklahoma, like Texas, is quite bereft in natural beauty. But damn, we have lots of oil and natural gas!
Nov 21, 2017 18:48:05 #
Streets wrote:
Thank you! I was actually referring to the cropped image vs. the uncropped. Which image looked the most appealing...
Most of the folks who commented don't say why they prefer one over the other. I find that both negative and positive feedback are not valuable without knowing the reasons for the opinions. It's true I didn't say why either, though! I guess I got distracted by the "bless your heart; you're an artist" vs. the "we should always crop" references
So back to the beginning: I couldn't determine what you wanted to convey with your image (relating to Islandgal's comments). Centering the island and changing the aspect to pano makes my eyes jump back and forth to the water on each side; there's no natural flow (no pun intended) to the composition. PhotoKurtz mentioned a vertical crop to leave in the "action of the cascade." What do you think about something like that? (assuming it was the delicate spring growth surrounded by rushing water that caused you to stop and take the shot)
Nov 21, 2017 19:11:11 #
Streets wrote:
I like the cropped image more. I would imagine that compared to the wonders of your area, this image would seem bland. Oklahoma, like Texas, is quite bereft in natural beauty. But damn, we have lots of oil and natural gas!
I think there is a great deal to see in the area that you are shooting in Steets, such as the waterfall in the background of your image. I'm another one who likes the image uncropped, the foreground water and interesting vegetation in the left hand lower corner caught my eye. I might crop the right side to take the limb at the bottom out still leaving the focus on the water.
Was it the divided water way that peaked your interest in this spot? Recently I have been looking for areas nearby that are unappealing to most, because even in these spots there is beauty, you just have to see beyond the ugly, right!
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