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Aloha Art

9 Years Ago

To Crop Or Not To Crop, That Is The Question?

Art Prints

Art Prints

Here is an image I took that is the usual ratio of 4 by 3. Normally when I shoot a photo like this I would automatically crop the top of the image to a 4 by 2 (2 to 1) Ratio, but with the sky the way it is with the white cloud going to the top end of the 2/3rds I actually like this photo more without cropping the top end off. I think the clouds and sky enhance this image and when the top 1/3rd gets cut off it looks ok and the rule of 3rds is more correct, but almost all the dynamic aspect of the clouds is removed.

So the question is, do you think with this image that it should remain this ratio or do you think you have to follow the rule of thirds and crop the top end of the photo like this one?

I always believe that there is no 100% right or wrong answer with art. I believe that it is all opinion, but I always like to hear what other people think and see where the majority would stand on something like this.

Let me know what you think

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Joseph C Hinson

9 Years Ago

Trust your instinct and leave it as is! And remember, it's a "Suggestion of Thirds"! I love this image as is.

 

Chuck De La Rosa

9 Years Ago

X2 what Joseph said. The original is far more dramatic and inviting.

 

Jacqueline Athmann

9 Years Ago

Keep the original.

 

Kunal Mehra

9 Years Ago

Don't crop! I think having the sky in the picture gives it a little more breathing room and also adds a sense of scale to the image. Not to mention that the clouds look so great, it would be a shame to crop it.

 

Roger Swezey

9 Years Ago

It's my belief to forget numbers...Let your EYE dictate....

Although both are fine...My EYE prefers the original..

 

Val Arie

9 Years Ago

I prefer the original also. I don't do much photography and am wondering why you would just automatically crop an image.

 

Mark Papke

9 Years Ago

I like the crop. All that extra sky doesn't add anything to help the shot IMHO. Great shot either way.

 

Adam Jewell

9 Years Ago

Upload both and let the buyer choose.

 

Edward Fielding

9 Years Ago

Crop

 

Luke Moore

9 Years Ago

Original for sure. The original has a colossal/vast feel that gets eliminated by the crop version. Plus those wispy clouds are cool... they remind me of the top of an eyeball or eyelid.

 

Lisa Kaiser

9 Years Ago

I immediately liked the cropped version as the original is too busy for my eyes. Both images are wonderful. Sell them both!

 

Deb Wolf

9 Years Ago

That sky is awesome! Keep original! Great work!

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

i like the left one, the right one has too much sky and open space.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Bob Slitzan

9 Years Ago

I would go somewhere in between. The original has too much cloud on the top, and the crop is leaving off some of the best part. This is just the way I see it, you have to crop to what you think is going to show the best parts of the shot. But what do I know!

 

Colin Utz

9 Years Ago

Offer both.

 

Robert Frederick

9 Years Ago

I like the extra sky for depth but neither is wrong. Post 'em both.

 

Jane Shallcross

9 Years Ago

The original version is more visually appealing because my eye is drawn from the fluffy white of the fountain to the fluffy white of the clouds, and you loose the sense of distance in the cropped version.

 

Gales Of November

9 Years Ago

I prefer the cropped version.

 

Luke Moore

9 Years Ago

Bob makes a good point... somewhere in between might work well too.

 

Roger Swezey

9 Years Ago

I agree wholeheartedly what Jane had said, and that's why I voted for the original earlier.

The whole image is like looking inside of a bowl...A very dynamic bowl....Cutting the top off, makes the rest just spill out

 

K L Kingston

9 Years Ago

Original...dynamic!

 

Rudi Prott

9 Years Ago

Like Bob said: between the two because it is too much cropped (needs a bit blue) and the first has a bit too much sky.

 

Rudi Prott

9 Years Ago

If You use a software like photoshop (elements) I would also erect the vertical lines.

 

Gill Billington

9 Years Ago

I like the sky, it's cropped too close in the second one. I agree with Bob, just crop a small amount so you still have some blue at the top and not just cloud.

 

James B Toy

9 Years Ago

That sky is awesome, but my eye doesn't know what it's supposed to focus on, the sky or the fountain. My eye keeps bouncing back and forth. With the cropped version my eye wants to study the architecture, and overall the composition feels more stable. But I still love the sky! It's a real dilemma.

Offer both. Especially if you think you might offer them for Pixels licensing. A publisher might want the extra sky as a place to put text.

 

See My Photos

9 Years Ago

Original for me!

 

Aloha Art

9 Years Ago

Thanks for all your feedback. There is a way to to a mid crop, but I tend to like the 4by3 or the 2by1 ratios. There are only 1 or 2 photos I have taken that ended up needing the 4 by 2.5 ratio. I might give it a shot and see how it looks.

Good Eye Rudi, The only problem is I can not make the vertical lines the way I would like because the composition would be destroyed. This is one of the very few shots I have ever taken with my 16mm fisheye. The only reason why I had to use that lens is because my normal 14-24mm lanscape lens would not fit through the very small holes designed for the cameras to take photos through.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

 

Roger Swezey

9 Years Ago

To me,

Regarding the vertical lines...The point of view is too high to "straightened out" those lines......Those converging vertical lines of the buildings and fountain and the converging horizontal lines of the streets and clouds( on the original photo),is what makes that image so dynamic..

 

No brainer. I definitely would go with the cropped version. Les

 

Judy Kay

9 Years Ago

Why not compromise and crop the sky just a little less for better balance, There is quite a lot of sky for so little foreground, The 2nd one looks just a tad chopped off!

 

Roger Swezey

9 Years Ago

Do this exercise:

Make a line from each corner to the vanishing point, for each image.

And you'll see immediately that the UN cropped version is far superior.

 

Barbara Moignard

9 Years Ago

Original. I think it gives a greater impression of depth and has a more dramatic impact than the cropped version.

You could offer both but potential buyers may have difficulty making a choice and hesitate. If you only see one you would never know the other version existed.

A fantastic shot!

 

Michelle Meenawong

9 Years Ago

I would never crop an image like this. The sky is fantastic. Forget the 3rd rule. Rules are made to be broken

 

Roy Erickson

9 Years Ago

Put both versions up - I do like the un-cropped better.

 

Greg Jackson

9 Years Ago

"Put both versions up - I do like the un-cropped better."


Concur. Provide a choice.

 

Brian Jones

9 Years Ago

Ditto Joseph.

 

This discussion is closed.