Effect of cropping on Italian street scene: Walked through the city center of Todi, Italy recently and wanted to capture an image of a group of older folks enjoying the afternoon like...

Biscuitlover

Walked through the city center of Todi, Italy recently and wanted to capture an image of a group of older folks enjoying the afternoon like they probably do most days. I was further away than I wanted at 55mm, but wanted to remain inconspicuous. Here is the original shot with a couple different crops. Since my focus was on the people sitting, I didn't see others entering the frame.

philo Loc: philo, ca

i always like to see picture within an image.

lnl Loc: SWFL

I think the 3rd one works well to show an everyday setting. Some happy, some not so much—that’s life.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

I like the last. No distractions.

Boris77

Biscuitlover wrote:

Walked through the city center of Todi, Italy recently and wanted to capture an image of a group of older folks enjoying the afternoon like they probably do most days. I was further away than I wanted at 55mm, but wanted to remain inconspicuous. Here is the original shot with a couple different crops. Since my focus was on the people sitting, I didn't see others entering the frame.

I think that you are letting your intent get in the way of a good photograph. Check for a good vertical straightness, then crop your first image close outside the stones of the doorway, and modestly tighter on the top and left. Then add a small amount of cloned walkway outside/across the bottom so the folks are comfortably IN the picture.
Eliminate distracting small elements on the right and top - your choice.
The background adds to the interest while the people will dominate.
Boris

Tudor Loc: Bucyrus OH

I like the first image, but would crop out the conduit and signs on the right side. I like the doorway in the shot. I feel as though it gives context to the scene, and sets the location as somewhere with history. Otherwise, the four people could be anywhere.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I like all three..

Biscuitlover

I like your suggestions, thank you.

AFPhoto Loc: Jamestown, RI, USA

I think that i am very much with you in that my first instinct would be to crop down to the people sitting on the bench and doing what most older Italians (i have been there eight times) do which is to solve all the worlds problems and then go eat. However when I look at your first shot i am really fascinated by that door. The shape and the two handles give it almost a human - big brother looking over the conversation- look. So now my instinct would be to clean up the awning above the woman on the left and to convert the remaining to Black and white. This is a great shot. And by the way there are a few other great street cuts available here. Thanks for sharing

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Stash Loc: South Central Massachusetts

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

philo wrote:

i always like to see a picture within an image.

The lead Judge at the TBCClub chant was "crop to the story"... sometimes a very close crop is best ... now with AI removal, life is so much easier with the subject of this post.

An old movie called "Close Up" exemplifies what Philo says... photographer takes a photo in the park and far right behind the shrubs is a murder taking place... and so the story unwinds.

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Biscuitlover wrote:

Walked through the city center of Todi, Italy recently and wanted to capture an image of a group of older folks enjoying the afternoon like they probably do most days. I was further away than I wanted at 55mm, but wanted to remain inconspicuous. Here is the original shot with a couple different crops. Since my focus was on the people sitting, I didn't see others entering the frame.

I like the last image, also.

BrHawkeye

I like all three. However, I think there's more of a story in two and three. One is as much about the setting as the people.

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

I like the third one best. The lady on the left is someone I wouldn't want to mess with under any circumstances. Good choice of crops.