Sunday, February 15, 2009

Cropping exercise 2


Here is what I started with.

How would you crop it and why?

Peter:

As I commented regarding Ann's photo above, it's all a bit subjective. I disagree with Joan on this one as well, as I don't think the beach in the background adds any relevant context to the portrait. That doesn't mean it has to go, just that it doesn't matter if it does.

I think you are correct Julie, in allowing room for the dog to "spring" within the frame, and my spider sensed tell me that he will grab the bark and jump away (to the right of frame). So here's my "portrait" crop;




or maybe this? Golly it's a hard one!



Red lines are easily fixed:

7 comments:

Joan Elizabeth said...

Julie, as I said in my original comment I think the version in your post was nicely composed. I liked it because it showed the sand (context), because the background planting nicely framed the subject. Now I see the original I agree even further, the crop removes the distracting brick line in the paving and placed the subject into a more attractive position within the frame. I originally thought a tighter crop might be worth a try but seeing Ann's crop I don't think so, it takes out too much of the story. I also definitely prefer colour for this one.

bitingmidge said...

I don't mind my new crop (I get paid to say that), but I think the original shot would also have worked better if the subject had been closer, ie with a centred crop, with the subject about the same size in my crop above, but giving the dear old dog the opportunity of jumping both ways!

Now we have five "right" options for the one photo.....

Julie said...

Yes, this is the other version that I came up with - just that the red line annoyed me. I prefer this one because the dog really is ready to spring ... I guess be removing the sand you remove the line of debris which I saw originally as a continuation of the "line" of the dog, and the person ... but which I can now see just dilutes the focus on the dog and his spring.

Fascinating exercise this ...

bitingmidge said...

Red lines are easily fixed. (see above)

If I do any more we'll run out of page!

Julie said...

No no no ... not the tail ... leave the tail!!

Besides ... I like the white leg, white leg, tail sequence ...

Never thought of blacking out the red line ... so simple really ... just have to think of it ...

Ann said...

I agree with Julie - the tail stays.

freefalling said...

Of course, I had to have a little fiddle with this one myself.
You know....I reckon it's not about the dog - it's about her.
There appears to be a wistfulness about her that I think is the most appealing thing about the photo.
I'd crop the right of the picture out and a bit of the top of the photo but leave the beach on the left.
I'd make it black and white but add heaps more contrast and I'd crop out the bottom to the end of whatever it is she is holding.