Cropping

[Chris Hawes]

Hi everyone,

I'm curious to know how much other members crop their images before uploading them to this, or other, websites' galleries. Do people crop whenever needed, or generally stick to full frame images?

I've always been a bit reluctant to crop much due to issues with image quality and, to some extent, my own views about changing things too much in post-processing, but I wonder if this is being a bit silly, and limiting myself somewhat. I also realise that with newer cameras with more megapixels, image quality can still be pretty good.

What do other members do? Anyone brave/honest enough to put up some before and after cropped shots?!

Cheers,

Chris

[MeadsMan]

I am very much like yourself when it comes to cropping.However.....It is very difficult to get a perfectly composed image all the time,especially on things that are not willing to cooperate.If I have to crop it anything over 50% unless it`s something special,I wont class it as a keeper.I don`t particularly like doing to much enhancing to my photos in anyway,but some is needed to get the best from digital images.I think we would both be rather shocked if we see how much some individuals crop there images.It obviously does not take as much skill to get an image that has been heavily cropped in my opinion.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by MeadsMan

I think we would both be rather shocked if we see how much some individuals crop there images.It obviously does not take as much skill to get an image that has been heavily cropped in my opinion.

Of course, sometimes it's just not possible to easily get close enough to some wildlife without causing disturbance, even with careful stalking, and erecting a hide is sometimes completely out of the question.
It's also worth remembering that, for various reasons, many people do not have the long lens that (for example) photography of small birds often requires even if you are able to get close.

If photographs are only intended for display on a PC screen (or similar) then heavy cropping is an option - and a well exposed, properly focussed, and well composed image that has been obtained by cropping an original taken with a 200mm lens (or equivalent) requires no less skill than the same uncropped photo taken with a 500mm lens.


I do prefer my images to be usable without cropping, particularly when I intent to print them, or even hope for them to be published, but there is nothing wrong with photographing something that you know is "beyond the range of your lens" with the intention of cropping the image later.

[Ukwildlifeo]

To be honest there are very few images I take that dont have at least a minor crop! Mind you my gf insists I crop to much when I do sometimes.

I think basically in the heat of the moment getting perfect compostion can be hard when yopur worrying about DOF and shutter speed, combined with 14MP to play with I often resort to just getting an in focus photo and crop later.

[basquesteve]

I'll stick my neck out yes I crop regularly for wild life forums sometimes the object is to far away and you can only catch a picture in an instant yesterday for example I was in my usual domestic position under instruction at the sink washing dishes

This bird appeared in the garden I have never seen it before and it does normally live in this area grabbing the camera at any setting with bad light, wet hands I took this through the window No prize and bearing in mind my home any takers?

http://

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Steve

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by basquesteve

This bird appeared in the garden I have never seen it before and it does normally live in this area grabbing the camera at any setting with bad light, wet hands I took this through the window No prize and bearing in mind my home any takers?

Very nice - now that really would be unusual in Britain! (I won't name it yet, I'll leave it open for others).


A couple of examples of my cropped images (files sizes reduced with no attempt to maintain maximum quality):

Waxwing.
As posted previously (in Waxwing thread) -

Perhaps cropped a bit tighter than it should be, but I was in a hurry!

Uncropped original -

The bird was at the top of a tree and it wasn't possible to get closer without getting underneath the bird, 500mm lens + 1.4x converter (leaving space above the bird was a deliberate choice).


Southern Migrant Hawker.
Roughly as used in the December 2010 edition of British Wildlife Magazine -


Uncropped original -

I could have provided photos of the species that would have required less cropping, but they specifically wanted to publish one of the Hadleigh individuals.

Publishers crop photos to suit them so why shouldn't the photographer do the same? It can actually sometimes help to have 'wasted' space around the subject because it gives publishers more scope to change the shape of the printed photo, or to add text over the image without obscuring the subject.

[slimrbp]

I often crop as has already been stated sometimes you just can't get close enough to the smaller birds for example this image taken in my back garden with a 420mm lens at a reasonably close distance (approx 6-8m).
I reckon to get the same image without cropping I reckon I would need a 600mm F4 which is outside my budget.



I'll have a mooch when I get home to see if I can find the original.

[Paul mabbott]

There have been lengthy threads on this topic before - well worth a search - and, as ever, it is dominated by people thinking about bird pictures. I think there is no catch-all answer - it depends on what you're photographing and what equipment you have with you. A landscape may need next to no cropping whereas a small insect may benefit with a 90% crop. I always give the example of :

http://www.wildabouttheworld.com/gal...php/photo/4860

Without cropping it would be a screenful of rosemary!

I'm not sure where this 'quality loss' comes in - from previous discussions I gather that loss of quality (definition?) from one cropping action is no worse than that from resizing or any other manipulation?

[nigel_b]

Of course, crop and frame, put the subject in an interesting position in the frame, cut out unwanted and distracting background. What's the problem!?

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by nigel_b

Of course, crop and frame, put the subject in an interesting position in the frame, cut out unwanted and distracting background. What's the problem!?

Exactly Nigel

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls & Avocets)