DSLR Photography Forum

The world just does not fit conveniently into the format of a 35mm camera.
- W. Eugene Smith

When we first capture a photograph, we're limited to the shape that the camera is designed for. Different cameras use different shapes, or aspect ratios, but we rarely get a choice in the matter. At least, not until we get our images back home and start looking at them on the computer.

The problem is that the world doesn't always fit a 3:2 frame, or a 4:3 frame, or 16:9 or even 1:1. Usually we crop to make small details more prominent, but it's also a tool to let us bring out images that otherwise would be lost, or to change the relationship of elements to the frame. Even stitching together a panorama is a way to overcome the camera's inherent inability to fit everything we want perfectly into a set rectangle.

For this assignment, experiment with how you compose a photo after it has been taken. Try cropping to different aspect ratios, turn horizontals into verticals, use (or lose) details in the background, and otherwise use the edges of your frame as a creative control instead of a restriction.

While new photos are invariably encouraged for assignments, in this case I also suggest going back to some older images and see how changing the crop changes the photo. If possible, before-and-after images are always great to look at.

Very interesting topic in this assignment Matt...
Thanks.

Here are some of my pictures I have cropped.

This picture was taken with the idea of working square format so I really didn't mind much the sky or anything. I placed my composition in one edge of the frame, knowing I would crop the other edge.




Same picture without the crop.




Trying to rescue some of my sunflower pictures I took for the flash assignment. The crop improved the image a lot and gave me another different view of the subject.

With this crop the cruves in my picture have a right place and enhance the flower, also make a more balanced composition in terms of colors and light.







I really like very much to compose my pictures when I take them, I am mean with my pixels and if I see the composition in the field why not to work it there...

anyway, it is true that you can improve tremendously a picture with a good crop. I took this picture two years ago, and I had forgotten I had them. Few weeks ago I worked with them. Everything I tried made them very noisy... so I thought it would be better if I used the noise as part of the treatment. I did this sepia post processing and I left the noise, I like them... and the crop made a complete new picture... I don't post the original in sepia because the treatment was for this crop. The original format looks really bad. Here you have this one in original...

Taken with my panasonic fz20.

First of all, Irma, I really like the tight cropped flower. Probably my favorite of all of them.

Here's my try at it. I tried to crop in the camera, focusing on the hands. However, she was holding chopsticks and I didn't want to cut those off, as sometimes cutting things off with ruin the continuity of a picture I've heard. However, I only kind of liked it. So I tried a tighter, more panoramic crop and then a more vertical one too. Here they are.

Post processing included cropping, b/w conversion and simple curves changes for tonal range and contrast enhancement.

First picture (as cropped in camera)


Second Image (attempted "dramatic" crop)


Third image ("plan B" dramatic crop, vertical but not "cutting off" the chopsticks)


Which is good/better/best or worse/worser/worst?

DJ: I like #2 - it has context (the arm) but not so much as to confuse the viewer about the subject.

I really like the work that I'm seeing in this thread. It's clear that a lot of thought has gone into it.

There are some things that I just like to have a certain way, and aspect ratios is one of them. I almost always crop an image to 4x5 or leave it in its native 3:4 ratio, and almost never use 2:3. But even if I do go wild with a 2:3 ratio, it's always still in a ratio -- going wild and leaving the little padlock open in Lightroom is something I never do. When I was processing my recent Brickworks photos I made a point of experiementing with different crops, but it wasn't until tonight that I just used whatever suited the image.

Here's the starting place:



(yes, I missed the focus. I'm still getting used to the camera.) Here's what I decided on:



Not earth-shattering, but for me it's a big step.

On the same outing I spotted a garden hose dangling from the roof of a four-story building, and I experimented with a couple of different options.





None of them are going to wind up framed in a museum, but it was interesting to me to see what the options were.

Your pictures improved with the crop a lot!

I normally crop 2X3 I like it a lot!! I had a time when I cropped 1 x 1.62 and still I find it beautiful.

To get used to the square format was a bit difficult but I also like it!

Maybe I have a misconception with these terms, because English is not my native language... but, is it the same to use the word format and ratio?

Others may have a different opinion to me, but .................
ratio means the difference between two or more sizes/weights/ objects.
format is a specific size for (flash card/ camera sensor) although it can be a different size.

But they have a similar meaning.
Spoken and written english is not as precise/formal as German or Italian. (e.g. Der die das) so unless you are going to take an exam Irma, I would not worry too much. I understand all you write on the forum. If you make a mistake all I do, is a little smile. But a nice one.

Hi Matt - with your second picture (the one with the hose), I think I like the window in the shot - it makes the hose look more crazy somehow.

Matt; I do agree with Chris: the window and snaky length of the hose seems to have more unspoken themes going: I wonder, would a cloning out of the round metal wall-tie thing help too?

Excellent suggestions. I also moved to a square crop (a la Irma) and like the result much better.

Thanks NT for your comment and explanation... You are very kind...

Matt... That looks gorgeous!!
Excellent suggestion for the crop indeed, you picture really shines!!

Here's another attempt, though a different subject.

These were apartment houses torn out (although people still live in them) to make way for a new overpass.













Sidenote: Look at Wulinka's threads of Hualian houses being torn down for destruction and you'll notice they are a bit similar in theme to these. That's because 1) we live in the same city (she introduced me to this site) and 2) I was impressed enough to try and imitate her work, and 3) I hope that by adding this is will help validate what she has already said.

DJ, those are cropped in reality as well! Sad, but I liked being able to read your message about the plight of the occupants...

Irma, I forgot to mention that I like what you did with the very first photo in this assignment. Cropping the extreme end of a photo is a great way to keep a natural perspective without cutting the final photo in half with the horizon.

I cheated with this next photo, since I cropped it in camera. But my excuse is that I was thinking about cutting things in half because of this assignment yesterday, when I was photographing those drinking glasses. That made me try this composition. It all comes around...

Ernie:

Very sweet picture Matt... I like it a lot...

And that is what exactly happened to me yesterday. Thinking about this assignment helped me to work my composition and as you said crop in the camera.

Thanks Matt for your comment on my picture... I took two pictures one vertical to work my square format and the other one in ladscape just in case the first idea wouldn't work. At the end I liked this one much better.