How much Do I Crop to Set the Context But Emphasize the Subject? After celebrating my 80th birthday by photographing the Sporting KC outdoor soccer team in Kansas City, I experienced a...

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

After celebrating my 80th birthday by photographing the Sporting KC outdoor soccer team in Kansas City, I experienced a dilemma while editing the images. How much should I crop this horizontal shot of Coach Peter Vermes, standing on the sideline, to emphasize him as the subject and yet set the context that tells the story? I am including my original shot as well as my final version. Would some of the excellent sports photographers on UHH please make their suggestions of how to improve my final cropped version? Thank you in advance.

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srat50 Loc: Ware, Massachusetts

If you can run the cropped one through a de-noise program

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Cropping is a part of photography. It is a learning curve. What do you want to say with the picture?
It should come to you in time and you will do it when taking the picture.
Think, what am I saying with this picture and crop it then. Think this and work on this. your thecnical photo skills are fine.
Have fun.

scallihan Loc: Tigard, OR

I would bring the left side in a bit more to eliminate that red distraction. Unless that messes too much with the ratio you are trying to achieve. Otherwise, it's a pretty powerful image.

tommystrat Loc: Bigfork, Montana

I copied your image and tried various cropping / background blur / cloning out distractions, etc. However, I think your crop has the elements of the sidelines, fans and principal subject that accomplishes what you say you are trying to do - nice work. A denoise treatment would be beneficial, and possibly a background blur. But, those go to my sensibilities and they may not be yours. In any event, nice capture and keep clicking, mate!

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

srat50 wrote:

If you can run the cropped one through a de-noise program

Thanks srat50!

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Picture Taker wrote:

Cropping is a part of photography. It is a learning curve. What do you want to say with the picture?
It should come to you in time and you will do it when taking the picture.
Think, what am I saying with this picture and crop it then. Think this and work on this. your thecnical photo skills are fine.
Have fun.

Thanks Picture Taker!

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

scallihan wrote:

I would bring the left side in a bit more to eliminate that red distraction. Unless that messes too much with the ratio you are trying to achieve. Otherwise, it's a pretty powerful image.

Thanks scallihan!

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

tommystrat wrote:

I copied your image and tried various cropping / b... (show quote)

Dear tommystrat...YOU THE MAN!

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I think your crop goes a bit too far, IMHO. I tried it myself and found that if I included the activity on the field, it made a bit more sense. In that way, we could see what he was watching so intently. My crop was at the break in the bench on the left and just beyond the player with the ball on the right. I then adjusted the vertical sizing to bring the image to a standard size, with more of the crowd than the empty field.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

AzPicLady wrote:

I think your crop goes a bit too far, IMHO. I tried it myself and found that if I included the activity on the field, it made a bit more sense. In that way, we could see what he was watching so intently. My crop was at the break in the bench on the left and just beyond the player with the ball on the right. I then adjusted the vertical sizing to bring the image to a standard size, with more of the crowd than the empty field.

Dear AzPicLady...
Your reasoning is sound. Would you mind sending me a copy of your end result when you included the activity on the field? Do you always try to bring images to a standard size and if so, why?

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Shooter41 wrote:

Dear AzPicLady...
Your reasoning is sound. Would you mind sending me a copy of your end result when you included the activity on the field? Do you always try to bring images to a standard size and if so, why?

I am going to send via PM. No, I do NOT try to bring images to a standard size. And I'm not sure this one actually is. When I'm going to print an image for sale, I normally use a standard size so that the customer can easily find a frame for it. If I'm going to frame it, I crop it any way I like and build a frame to fit!

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

AzPicLady wrote:

I am going to send via PM. No, I do NOT try to bring images to a standard size. And I'm not sure this one actually is. When I'm going to print an image for sale, I normally use a standard size so that the customer can easily find a frame for it. If I'm going to frame it, I crop it any way I like and build a frame to fit!

Dear AzPicLady...
I really like your answer that you sometimes crop your images any way you like and build your own frame.

LDB415 Loc: Houston south suburb

Yellow shirt to yellow shirt, including all the anatomical parts that go with each.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Shooter41 wrote:

After celebrating my 80th birthday by photographin... (show quote)

Once you start modifying the image to make a point or emphasize an element, why stop with cropping. See attached image with a few things moved around.

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