Cropping Images

AlfyB

AlfyB

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429
Name
Ian
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi everyone,

I've been wondering recently if there are any recommended do's and don'ts when cropping images?

Normally I just go with if it's not adding anything to be picture then it gets cropped but this had been leaving me with some thin/narrow images recently that don't feel right.

I guess the answer is to compose the image better in the first place but would be interested to here if anyone has any rules they follow or any tips?
 
When I crop, I always have a thirds grid to make sure the finished image (most times) conforms.
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
I don’t crop to standard sizes because what I photograph doesn’t often fit to standard aspect ratios.
Click to expand...

Well it either would fit into the 3:2 ratio or 4:3 ratio depending on your camera.

Always crop to you native aspect ratio unless you are doing it for a specific print e.g. a 3:2 ratio camera will crop on an 8x6 print so if you crop to the 4:3 ratio in photoshop then it will come out exactly how you want it to ;)
 
mastertrinity said:
Well it either would fit into the 3:2 ratio or 4:3 ratio depending on your camera.

Always crop to you native aspect ratio unless you are doing it for a specific print e.g. a 3:2 ratio camera will crop on an 8x6 print so if you crop to the 4:3 ratio in photoshop then it will come out exactly how you want it to ;)
Click to expand...

No I’m saying the subject matter doesn’t need to be restrained by any standard aspect ratios.

If you have the choice, why restrict oneself framing to standard sizes. After all scenes come in all shapes and sizes, so why not frame them as one wishes, or rather, frame them better with an independent one off ratio..
 
Agree with Adam on this - a good picture is a good picture. It doesn't gain extra points if it is a "standard" ratio. In fact, it doesn't even need to be rectangular - that's just what people expect. Try pushing the boundaries (literally :) )
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
No I’m saying the subject matter doesn’t need to be restrained by any standard aspect ratios.

If you have the choice, why restrict oneself framing to standard sizes. After all scenes come in all shapes and sizes, so why not frame them as one wishes, or rather, frame them better with an independent one off ratio..
Click to expand...

Woops we sort of came under a misconception then :lol:

I thought you meant that the ratio on your camera was different which I thought impossible as the only ones available are 3:2/4:3/16:9 but I understand what you mean now and I totally agree with you.

I sometimes get an image in square format because it just has a "feel" about it and you just know when you have it perfectly sorted :)
 
I find that it depends on subject material. In my sports photography, I frequently have to crop to the action because I can't necessarily frame everything as I want it when I take the shot, as I can't control what's happening in front of me. I try to avoid it in other forms of photography.
 
there's no need to restrict yourself to a certain ratio just to get it to fit in a frame, or because it's 'normal'. i'd rather use it as another creative tool and apply the crop i feel suits the image, but it's very subjective. a square crop for a landscape would be sacriligous in some peoples eyes but for others it fits the image they have in their head for how they want it to look.
 
I normally cover up what I don't want to crop and then look at just what I'm thinking of cropping. If it adds nothing to the picture, I get rid of it.

I've no time for the school of thought which says you must avoid cropping at all costs - sometimes, you can't compose in camera exactly as you'd like, and you need to crop out things you cna't avoid having in the original composition.
 
Totally depends on what you're doing with the final product, personal, print, web, media etc. Crop large enough to give room for further use of someone else's machette.
 
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