Crop or not? As I explore PP skills, I am faced with decisions on composition. Attached is a shot where I debated a more severe crop isolating the flower or leaving it with more...

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

As I explore PP skills, I am faced with decisions on composition. Attached is a shot where I debated a more severe crop isolating the flower or leaving it with more surround. I would appreciate your opinions and reasoning.

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John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I would guess the proximity of the two nearest petals would prevent a straight edged crop about the central blossom. The non-crop puts the central bloosom into its environment and there is a value to that.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

It would be easier to consider cropping with the whole image to see. I think there is a general tendency to crop in as close as possible, putting the main subject in a box. If I understand correctly, that this is a crop of the original.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

John_F wrote:

I would guess the proximity of the two nearest petals would prevent a straight edged crop about the central blossom. The non-crop puts the central bloosom into its environment and there is a value to that.

Thanks for taking the time to look and comment, John.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

fergmark wrote:

It would be easier to consider cropping with the whole image to see. I think there is a general tendency to crop in as close as possible, putting the main subject in a box. If I understand correctly, that this is a crop of the original.

No, this is the original size. I usually crop as tight as I can for flowers, but the second flower edge appeared to provide a balance to me.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

A bit of rotation that puts the blossoms more on different levels might be in order. And more context (if you have it) gives some room for the imagination to manoeuvre.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

R.G. wrote:

A bit of rotation that puts the blossoms more on different levels might be in order. And more context (if you have it) gives some room for the imagination to manoeuvre.

Thanks for the insight, RG. Rotation never occurred to me.

PhotoKurtz Loc: Carterville, IL

Maybe crop to the single flower with the yellow bud in the top right and a little offset to the left. Clone out the other petals if they interfere.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

PhotoKurtz wrote:

Maybe crop to the single flower with the yellow bud in the top right and a little offset to the left. Clone out the other petals if they interfere.

Thanks, I may give that a try also.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

What a great example of how our eyes perceive color: warm colors advance, cool colors recede...and this blossom image looks nearly 3D as a result! I also like the light gray, non-competing background, unopened blooms and depth of field.

Now, where were we? Oh yeah, composition

I like R.G.'s idea of a slight rotation because right now, the composition feels a little rigid. For this subject, something more "flowing" might be more appealing. I also like a little more taken off from the left side flower. To me that makes it feel a more deliberate choice. I pm'd you the change, which also includes a slight rotation, though my Chromebook editing app tool is more "straighten" than rotate.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Linda From Maine wrote:

What a great example of how our eyes perceive colo... (show quote)

As usual, Linda to the rescue! Thanks for taking the time, I look forward to your message. When this string is over, I plan to pursue each of the suggestions in Light Room to see what I get.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

UTMike wrote:

As I explore PP skills, I am faced with decisions on composition. Attached is a shot where I debated a more severe crop isolating the flower or leaving it with more surround. I would appreciate your opinions and reasoning.

Hi, UTMike,

Another pp tactic that is not commonly considered is to slightly emphasize (enlarge) the subject blossom while de-emphasizing (reduction of)the partial second blossom by using either barrel deformation centered on the subject blossom, or pincushion deformation centered on the intruding blossom.

IME I figured the latter (pincushion) approach would too strongly deform the subject blossom, so I chose the former, but more subtle (barrel)approach.

Just a thought.

Best regards,
Dave

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Uuglypher wrote:

Hi, UTMike, br br Another pp tactic that is not c... (show quote)

Thanks for taking the time, Dave. My next step, of course, will be to figure out the deformations process, but that is the beauty of learning PS.

repleo Loc: Boston

I think it is good the way it is and I like tight crops. However, I would be tempted to take a bit off the right hand side to move the bloom off center.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

repleo wrote:

I think it is good the way it is and I like tight crops. However, I would be tempted to take a bit off the right hand side to move the bloom off center.

Thanks for the input!