Taken 05/17/10

lizzard_nyc · May 19, 2010

I'm trying to get the hang of cropping to help tell a story better.
Does it lose something in the crop?

-

uncropped--

bdcolen · May 19, 2010

Don't know that it loses anything, Liz, but also not at all sure it gains. Also, for whatever it's worth, when I crop, I either try to maintain the original aspect ratio, or go crop to a known aspect ration, such as a square, that I can't normally get with my camera but would have shot had I been able to. I'm not fond of just random crops. But that's me.
So...Suppose you cropped up the right side of the image, beginning at the bottom, running the line just to the left of goofy-hat-woman's hand, and then cropped across the top an equal amount, maintaining the original proportions?

michswiss · May 19, 2010

I agree with B.D. I really try to stick with "standard" crops as much as possible. While rules are made to be broken, I think it's good to push yourself to try to get the comp right as much as possible within some form of constraint. That said, it's also good to explore an image to understand where the story is through various crops then bring that thinking with you when you've got the camera in hand.

lizzard_nyc · May 19, 2010

bdcolen wrote: »

Don't know that it loses anything, Liz, but also not at all sure it gains. Also, for whatever it's worth, when I crop, I either try to maintain the original aspect ratio, or go crop to a known aspect ration, such as a square, that I can't normally get with my camera but would have shot had I been able to. I'm not fond of just random crops. But that's me.
So...Suppose you cropped up the right side of the image, beginning at the bottom, running the line just to the left of goofy-hat-woman's hand, and then cropped across the top an equal amount, maintaining the original proportions?

B.D.--Glad you mentioned the aspect ratio issue. I have wondered before if I needed to adhere to it, or if random cropping was acceptable. I do both. So I will try and stick to the aspect ratio or go with a square crop.

I think I followed your directions--here is the re crop, with original proportions.

What I was trying to convey--which I don't think I succeeded in was that this shot was taken right at the intersection where Little Italy meets Chinatown and the Asian man and the Italian guy were having words. I liked the hand gestures and attitude of the Italian kid and the solemn look of the Asian gentleman.

bdcolen · May 19, 2010

lizzard_nyc wrote: »

B.D.--Glad you mentioned the aspect ratio issue. I have wondered before if I needed to adhere to it, or if random cropping was acceptable. I do both. So I will try and stick to the aspect ratio or go with a square crop.

I think I followed your directions--here is the re crop, with original proportions.

What I was trying to convey--which I don't think I succeeded in was that this shot was taken right at the intersection where Little Italy meets Chinatown and the Asian man and the Italian guy were having words. I liked the hand gestures and attitude of the Italian kid and the solemn look of the Asian gentleman.

There you go!

clap

Richard · May 19, 2010

IMO, the story comes across well in both the cropped and uncropped versions. Of the two crops, I prefer the second because it completely focuses on the guys. OTOH, I rather liked the echo of the umbrellas in the woman's hat in the original.

Regarding crops, I use standard ratios but TBH, I can't think of a compelling reason why. I print very seldom and it really doesn't matter at all for Web display. Still, some proportions might be more harmonious than others, I think, and the standard ratios have withstood the test of time.

Wow, talk about a wishy-washy comment.

sabesh · May 20, 2010

Crop or no crop, this is a good shot. I enjoyed it. Thx for sharing!

rainbow · May 21, 2010

I really like this shot -- more than many others because of the reading of faces and posture. I think the clear capture of a light confrontation between the two while others in the street just glance over but keep moving on makes for an engaging viewing.

Richard's correct in the closer crop focusing on the protagonists. I like the wider view because it becomes just another "normal" happening in the city. Either is good depending on your own preferences.

Taken 05/17/10

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