JZA B1

Square crop, rule of thirds, or something completely different?

How do you know which one to apply in any given situation? Any time-tested rules or just what looks best?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I shoot full sensor, no sensor cropping. I will do that in post, but I do use the zoom for preliminary cropping as desired.
Usually the rule of thirds, depending on the subject and my feelings/desire.

Just what looks best, even if it breaks the rule(s).

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

If you are a skilled typist do you THINK about where the keys are located... ? Your BRAIN knows; it has learning ability. When it is right, you KNOW and FEEL it... Of course there are ALWAYS scenes within the scenes...

rangel28

Composition rules are okay to use as a guide but I don't necessarily live by them. When I am out shooting I am composing in my mind and I then use the camera to "compose" the shot through the viewfinder, moving the camera to the right or left, up or down, depending on the scene. I then, when post processing, will try different crops to see which looks best in my mind, or, if I got it the way I wanted it when I took the shot, do very little or no cropping in post.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Cropping in post is handy for scenes within scenes.

adedeluca Loc: holbrook ny

Yes I always look around myself and picture beauty as it seen by my eyes

When it look good a press the shutter

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I trop thru the lens. Learned with taking sides. You took all correctly (focus, cropped and exposure) or got nothing. I still think that way, yes, I can fix and adjust some now but, I still take the picture with all in mind. Save a lot of work later.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

In general I tend to be sloppy in my shooting. I almost never compose a shot in the view finder. Since I shoot in RAW all all my images must be post processed. As far as cropping goes, if I'm shooting birds or bugs the subject will usually be centered and cropped depending on the shape of the subject. Other shots and subjects are processed and cropped as fits mood at the time. I have never bothered to learn the rules but I do know what I like and crop accordingly.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I put the image into the editor and crop until it looks good. I don’t have a hard rule for cropping. I might even do several different crops for different versions.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

In addition to practice & more practice & a better understanding of the basic rules of thumb while also learning from your failures is realizing the problem itself.

You are attempting to depict a subject that resides in a Three-dimensional world with a Two-dimensional device

The good news is that you are not alone humans have been attempting to do the same thing since drawing pictures on cave walls

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Some photograhers have a natural inborn talent for composition- that is the placement of subjects within the frame. Some folks have a natural inborn talent while others have to learn some basic element to develop a knack or talent. There are othere elements that have to do with composition such as the use of color, lighting, and tone, and the strategic use of leading lines.

There are "rules" and guidelines that are useful in teaching and learning the basic elements. There are the rule of thirds and the golden section but those are the tip of the iceberg. There are complex theses written with, intricate diagrams, grids, and diagrams on cameras' viewing screens. All of these resources are helpful but perhaps not practical in workg in the field. I have a book that not only has all those diagrams but breaks them into mathematical and geometric formulas. It is some interesting reading but not very useful when shooting wildlife. a sports event, a landscape in sub-freezing weather, or a riot. You can the the book with you but you can subconsciously apply some of the theory.

What you boil things down to the basic reason for the concept is to lead the viewers' eyes to the motif of your images.

Personally speaking, I do not confine my work to one format, aspect ratio, size, or shape unless it is for a commercial job with a particular layout. I find that some subjects work well in a square rectangular, panoramic, ir even round or oval final disposition and shoot accordingly. Some subjects do well in a tight composion and some benefit from negative space. I consider leading lines, foreground framing in traditional approaches, and oftentimes breaking a "rule" will make for a stronger image.

If you are satisfied with your result, composition-wise, a good experiment is to see if they conform to any of the classic rules. You might find out that you have a natural talent. If you are dissatisfied, study some of the classic concepts and see what improvement you can apply.

The great advantage of digital photoghay is that you do not have to go through tons of film and hours of darkroom work to experiment. You can not only bracket exposures but "bracket" compositions aswell- try various points of view, varying focal lengths, leaving more or less space around your subject, and consider various aspect ratios, and crops. Develop your individual style and approach.

I kid you not about that book. Here is one of the diagrams that illustrate the strongest point in a composiition- enough to drive one crazy.

There is no magical formula. Study some of the foundational material, apply it when you can, see if you like the results, break a few rules, and at the end of the day it waht looks good to YOU!

MJPerini

In my view , if you are looking through the viewfinder trying to apply rules, you have it backwards.
It is not the rules of composition are bad, but Art came first, and 'rules were derived from looking at what good artists do, So, look at enough great work to internalize them to the point where you are not thinking about them.

My cameras do have grid lines, and I use them as an aid to keeping things straight but even that becomes second nature. Looking at lots and lots of good pictures is the best way to internalize a sense of composition. Also I have found composing pictures with two eyes open and the camera at my side, then raising the camera at the last moment while doing a quick 'edge check' is much better than just looking through the camera. I think it is critical for getting good pictures of people (especially in a studio)
The other big benefit is that you eyes keep you aware of the wider view or things you might be missing.
I always remember Dorothea Lange's famous quote " A camera is an instrument to teach people to see without a camera'
So, see it first is my opinion.

I generally do not use long telephoto lenses and see those as an exception to the way I normally work

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Most photography “rules” are rules of thumb. I keep them in mind, but I shoot what feels best.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I guess some of us are computer people and do it on the computer and some in the camera. To each his own.