DSS#37 -- "Who are you calling 'Squab'?"

ghinson

From this morning's walk:

lizzard_nyc

Great title and great shot!!!

My only question is, is there too much open space in the frame? I'm a little confused about this last challenge, should there be any space at all outside the subject--I thought it was fill the frame, so I'm being very literal. Not a nit, I think it's a great shot. Just hoping for some clarification.

ghinson

"Fill the Frame" is a common piece of composition advice. I am novice enough not to be speaking authoritatively on the subject, but my take on it is that you want to make all of the focus be on your subject. I don't think it means to completely limit anything else in the frame, but you don't want anything else distracting from your subject. So I think that, using the bird as an example, it means that allowing a little bit of the rule of two thirds to improve your composition is okay, as long as the background is bland. I think the same picture, taken on a park bench at anything other than the shallowest DOF, would not fit the challenge. I looked at cropping this down some, but with the diagonal of the building, it just doesn't look as good as having the diagonal being a leading edge to the blue sky.

Here's an article on the topic: http://digital-photography-school.com/fill-your-frame

At least, this is my read. Interesting question though. Any other opinions?

Tango

knowing the theme hardliners around here, you better fill that frame more.... try at least 90% bird, 10% whatever.... open sky in this case:D

ghinson

I could crop, but I like the picture as it is. If we're hardlining it, I'm going to put my macro on and take something else.

travelways

ghinson wrote:

I could crop, but I like the picture as it is. If we're hardlining it, I'm going to put my macro on and take something else.

Good idea

I personally think that filling the frame should look something like our Avatars on the left side

indiegirl

I'd crop some of that sky out. I'd play with a square crop to juxtapose the shape of the bird and the roof line. It's a fun shot!

ghinson

OK. I've done some cropping. Fit the theme better?

WhatSheSaw

Hmmm.... I'm not sure. Maybe try a little more of the sky on the left so it is not quite centered.

BTW, great shot!

pyroPrints.com

I like this a lot

travelways

ghinson wrote:

OK. I've done some cropping. Fit the theme better?

Now I think it's very nice

indiegirl

Yup. Love it!

ic4u

indiegirl wrote:

Yup. Love it!

"Ditto"

KevXman

I'm liking the new crop as well.
— Kevin

dlscott56

New cropping looks good.