gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

I hope I put this in the right spot, I am sorry if not.

Here is a photo I did with my wife, I had done edits, cropped, sharpened and posted it on another site and was shot down pretty fast. I didn't really get any suggestions but just told what I had done wrong. This time I am just uploading here as an unedited photo, you will see my scars from the army on my legs, my camera bag and cane. I was using a tripod and set my camera so I could use a phone app to take the snapshots.
When cropping this image I tried to come closer so other things couldn't really be seen but the crop was the subject of my errors. I was to close to my hands or to close to my elbow when trying again. I did read some info on what to consider when cropping and from a lot of the sites I get conflicting information.
canon 70D
f6.3 / 1/250s / ISO 100 / 18-55mm lens @ 20mm
I saved this to .jpg as the raw image may be over the limit for uploading.

my question is how would you crop this? I know more could be done to touch up but would really look forward to your thoughts.

thank you

(Download)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

16:9, cropping off at the top, mostly

OR

1:1, with the square starting at the bottom, visually centering the couple

OR

As is

OR

4:5 vertical, same as square, just more “sky” in it at top of frame.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I would make it more square by cropping some from the left and a bit from the right. A bit of PS Magic and Voila.. Sorta like this:

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

As a pro that I am I find the shot a nice casual husband and wife shot. As for cropping I would probably crop it dependent on the frame you want to place it in. Of course you and the wife would be center in that frame. As I would any commercial family portrait. The subject you and your wife being the most important in the shot. If an 8X 10 crop for 8X10 frame Your heads need to be maybe an inch to 1 1/2 inches from top of the fame keeping as much of your bodies and legs in the shot as an 8X10 crop would allow. Your choice would be either vertical or horizontal. You loose the sides in vertical and keep most of them in vertical. I personally think the horizontal would be best. As for what a lot of people say the crop should be I find the customer is who I please and if you like it as a horizontal then that is what you would get from me. Those who don't like it usually never do family portraits as a pro like I have been doing. As for the shot you might punch it up a little in Adobe before you print it. I use no camera apps but I do have a remote control for my Nikons. For me too many things on my phone already text and phone calls is all I need as well as a map once in a while since you cannot find road maps as easy as you once could have. From an old Marine thanks for your time in the Army. I find sometimes you just listen to the artist inside your head he may know more than other wanna be photographers. Real photography comes from within and knowledge of your gear coupled with experience. Create enjoy and have fun with it. I did that until I lectured and won contests and I still do that.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

Nice shot Gator. Very nice PS Magic CPR, well done.

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

Normally frames are 5x7 and 8x10 or some combination of the same rations of left to right sides. Rarely do you find square frames. Yes it does need a little pop but the framing is part of the cropping. Especially since it is a family portrait that would usually hang on a wall over the sofa or fireplace. For more than 1 person it can be hung horizontally while keeping as much of the background as fits in the shot in the frame. One person is normally hung as a vertical. A square would be nice but it would loose important location picture information.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I'd probably go with the 1:1 shown here. It has elements of rule of thirds and triangular compositions, concentrates on the key subjects, yet shows enough of the location to get a general idea of place.

I did a little color correction... White balance was off. This took a minute in Apple Preview. Given a raw file in Lightroom, it would be much better.

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

I love the ideas and what has been shown, if it is best to upload a raw file let me know as they are pretty large.

To be honest the harder part for me is that I wanted to avoid showing the scars on my legs and from some lessons I have worked with removing them with Photoshop takes away from the person. that is why I tried to crop up from the legs some but at certain points it cuts the fingers and a little more it also gets difficult, and if I go with just head and shoulders I feel that it takes away to much from the photo.

I have played with it more and the closest I could think of without taking to much away and I am still concerned. I tried to still do it where it shows some of the background, cropped it where we were to the left some letting there be more background and trying to still utilize some of the rule of thirds.
I need to break down and get me a grey card so I can do better with the white balance, I have been taking a lot of pictures and learning a lot and should of already don't that and I feel stupid for not being prepared better.


so here is what I have worked on to give a better idea, I may be way off base, I am trying to impress my wife as this was one of the better photos taken. Again if the raw picture is required I don't have a problem uploading I am just not sure of the rules for large files, I guess I could upload as a tiff if that would be better.

let me know what you think, of all the sites I have worked with this has given me the most and quickest help, thank you.

(Download)

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Crops are often a result of what you are trying to express - where you were out in the wild like the earlier ones, or up close to show the "love" in the latter. No right or wrong other than I personally don't like to cut off feet & hands. Also, if in doubt, up your resolution so you have ability to crop down without loosing detail and try different looks in PP.

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

thank you for your kind words. We had just celebrated our 35th anniversary and on this day it was kind of hot and I wore shorts. I was not thinking of the scars on my legs and it usually will not bother me as I am not looking at them when I am out walking but when I look at the raw photo it seems to be the first thing I see and then it becomes what it shouldn't. and that is difficult. When I was taking the photo's I had not thought of me being in my shorts but I was creating memories for my wife and myself. So I tried to crop where it was above the scars but it cut off part of the hands, and then a little higher and I just couldn't win. That is why I wanted to ask and I have received some great information and I have more things to consider when taking more photos.


thank you all so much, and I will get better :)

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

I truly fully understand but to me scars mean we have been down some back roads in life that were not all smoothly blacktopped. And, if I read correctly early, yours come from your time in the Army (I am also ex-Army) serving your country. Not making light of them, but heroes wear scars. Thank you for your service & sacrifices.

cdayton

How about something like this - lots of different frames available.

fourg1b2006 Loc: Long Island New York

I happen to like the original photo you posted here. In a shot like this i like to see a little of the surrounding area.If you cropped it it looks like your getting closed in. Just my opinion.

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

I like that, more of the photo and no scars. I do have a printer that prints on printable dvd's and that would be a wonderful cover, or even more those frames that have the egg shape boarders would work good for that too.

As for the other post, Yes I was in the Army and boy do I have memories. I have been in some beautiful places and I have been places that would make you puke. (talk about a diet program). I was only a cook and on top of that I was on a boat. figure if I wanted to cook on a boat I would of joined the navy hehe. We also did field exercises and they become more as desert storm and shield where starting. Well I am having some issues, so I need to log for awhile. It is good to talk about sometimes and others not.

again thank you all for the help.

BridieMcKenna

I cropped to 8x10 and your leg is out of the picture- I personally think your wife wouldn’t think twice about seeing your scars in the image; they’re part of you. I may have played with the color too much, but I love her red hair & your light eyes.