Quick cropping feedback

Howski

Howski

Howski

Associate
Joined
1 Sep 2005
Posts
410
Hi,
I took this image yesterday morning down on Ogmore beach - one of a set of really nice images.


Ogmore%20sunrise.jpg



Anyway I'm just starting to edit them and this is the first one I've started on. Anyway I was hoping for some feedback if it needs a crop or not as I'd like to get it done before starting to edit it. As it stands all I did was add the border and resize from the RAW. I was thinking of losing about a fifth of the left hand side so that the river is more prominent. Opinions?
Cheers
-How.
 
personally for me no

theres nothing detracting from the photo that needs removing, and the focus of the picture (the river) is roughly in the centre
 
Nice shot!

For me, the focal point in the picture is the bend in the river. You may find that the overall impact would be improved if you were to crop enough from the top and right side to place it a third of the way in and a third up.

In other words try to crop to conform to the so-called "rule of thirds". This rule has been used for hundreds of years for a reason - it is usually right!
 
Yea I was thinking of the rule of thirds when I suggested that crop - putting the pool and the sun closer to one of the "lines".
-How.
 
No right or wrong choice here - it is a matter for your personal aesthetic.

The trouble with digital media is that they make it too easy to change your mind after the event. Poor aged chap that I am, I had it drummed into me that the place to compose is in the viewfinder not the darkroom.

Your problem, I think, is that you have 2 possible focal points to choose from, the sun and the bend in the water. Try cropping for each and see which one you like better - or rather which one you want to emphasise more.

I have to admit that for me there is too little contrast between the sun and the nearby sky for it to be the highlight of the picture, but all these judgements will be highly subjective and personal.

Let me reiterate the fact that overall you have produced an attractive, even arresting, image and it just needs a bit of tweaking to show it to the best possible effect.
 
Cheers - I agree with you completely about composing the picture in the view finder. Although in this case it was a race against time as my friend was late getting up and we got there just after the sun had peaked over the horizon. I actually ran down to the beach to get this but I managed to take about 60ish shots before the sun hit us proper and during our time there I took about 500 (which is the real advantage of digital). Now all I have to do is separate the wheat from the chaff. This image did jump out at me though.

I actually now think that cropping bits out of the left might be better - get the sun on one of the lines and use the river to draw the eye in to it and also get ride of the fencing. IIRC that was what I was thinking and trying to get when I took it but I only had the one lens on me. Mind you I had a bit of a off day - I don't think I got one straight horizon!
Cheers again.
-How.
 
If I had to crop it I would crop a fifth of the RIGHT hand side not left , and I would probably crop a bit off the top too to even out the shape of the picture. I say leave it as it is but as others have said its your decision and everyone will make a different one. :)
 
I do understand its a personal opinion but the standard of photographers is so high here I really do listen to their opinions. Not that I'll defiantly change but its nice to see how people would do things.

Ok next up .......

IMG_0117_5_6.jpg


Do you think it'd be better off without the rock in the bottom?
Cheers
-How.

What do you think?

HDR%20river.jpg
 
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I agree with Messiah Khan...first one is too tilty ( new photographic term!! :D ) and it kind of makes me feel abit sick...can't say why though!!

Really like the 2nd, almost the same angle (if not equal) but feels less tilty! :)
 
AndyBorzi said:
( new photographic term!! :D )
Click to expand...

Nah, its been around for centuries. I believe Leonardo da vinci first used it about the Mona Lisa. "Mona love, you head is too tilty, stop slouching and sit up!" :p I think No1 and No2 are the same pic arn't they, just a different crop and processing?
 
You on about the two river pics?? If so, uh they are not just the same angle but the same photo! The second image is the crop I selected and the first one has had no editing other than sizing and being put together (its HDR), however the second actually had curves, sharpening etc. done. Cheers though!
-How.
 
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second set of photos (river)

the crop is a definite improvement, the bank on the other side, and rock in the foreground through the perspective off.
 
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