Cropping question

[Seveneer]

Hi,

I took this photo the other day but in my haste to try to capture the driver's expression I cut out the offside rear wheel. To salvage the picture I cropped around the driver and the front of the radiator grill. What do you guys think? Does it work for you? Unfortunately, I don't have access to the complete photo to show a comparison.

http://www.philrobins.org.uk/Pomeroy2/images/IMG_2092.jpg

All comments welcome.

Thanks,
/Phil.

[stopbath]

I find it difficult with the drivers face way up in the corner. His expression is very nice as he concentrates on driving this great little car. Is there anyway to get his head away from the edge?

[Radtech1]

I agree with Acetic Acid, that the driver is too far in the periphery to imapct the image. What I see is an image of the radiator and headlights (which is OK, they are interesting to look at), but the driver and his expression add little if nothing to the overall image.

R

[Seveneer]

Thanks. I know what you both mean but I'm not sure what I can do about this. Here's the original, where do you think I should have cropped it?

http://www.philrobins.org.uk/holding/IMG_2092b.jpg

Thanks again,
/Phil.

[cindavphoto]

I like the way you had it cropped. I thought it made for a very interesting story. I think people would tend to notice his face because of the color around it. My eye naturally say the grill first and made it's way back to his face.

Just my opinion.

Cinnamon

[tpinchback]

Like the crop better.

[perfectpixel]

how about a crop like this:
http://www.pbase.com/image/26362918.jpg

[martcol]

Hmmmm, this cropping thing gets me. I like them all but if I'm brutally honest it all points to the fact that you didn't quite get the shot you wanted in the first place. :?:

I should also point out that only recently have I started to stray from the regular rectangle in cropping pictures and Unstuck's take is an example. At the end of the day I suppose you crop to where you think you should. One man's crop is another man's crisis....

the main problem for me is deciding what the photo is about. Is it the car, the race, the day or memory or is it the determination of the driver. For me the photo doesn't stand for any one of those with any real conviction but that doesn't make it a bad photo. I like the movement, the exposure and yes, even the composition... good shot.

Martin

[Bruce Hamilton]

...it all points to the fact that you didn't quite get the shot you wanted in the first place.

Au contraire... Cropping is used to remove areas that are not relevant to the subject. Even when you get the shot you wanted, it can still be improved by cropping.

[perfectpixel]

well I didn't want to say it my original post, until you all had a chance to see it for yourself first. But the cropping works because it emphasizes the driver placed off center and the elongated crop implies the movement and speed of the car. And as you said, it removes some un-necessary (if not distracting) extras from the shot. It might even work better if it ends right after or into the right head lamp.
IMHO. I think this crop works better than the original shot even if the entire subject was "framed properly with offside rear wheel".
Bruce is correct that cropping is just another tool for creative control. Speaking of which, have you tried a black&white rendition of this shot?


agree? disagree? Love to hear your thoughts :)

[Seveneer]

Well, I can certainly understand all of the points given. I think the idea of cropping had less to do with telling a story and more to do with making the most of a picture which hadn't come out as planned. I also wanted to try to make the most of the determined look on the driver's face.

I have to say though that I prefer my original crop to the elongated one. I think this only goes to show that there's no one "correct" crop of a particular photo.

Thank you all very much for taking the time to discuss this. :)

All the best,
/Phil.

[evilenglishman]

I like the way you had it cropped. I thought it made for a very interesting story. I think people would tend to notice his face because of the color around it. My eye naturally say the grill first and made it's way back to his face.

Just my opinion.

Cinnamon

I agree with that 100% the car is the first thing you see and your eye wanders to the diver. The last thing you want is for people to look at the driver and then disappear to another page :wink: