TO CROP OR NOT TO CROP......

Please Critique
I am quiet new to photoshop CS and not sure if i have washed her out to much! [although that was what i was going for, just not sure if it worked]

If any, which crop do you prefer?

#2 is more powerful, but it depends what you're using the image for.

I prefer No. 2 also, but there's too much empty space to the right in that one.

I would have liked the top one best if the top of the head was included. Can you do that and repost the result? Or just simply post the entire original?

A very photogenic subject with marvelous skin by the way

Like #2, depending on its intended purpose, #1 is also nice -- but both have some sort of discoloration along the lower right edge that I'd try to clone out to match the rest of the background.

As a general photo to look at and admire, I prefer #1. I agree that #2 has lots of impact, and probably commercial appeal, but as a photo it's #1 for me.

Ok guys
This is the original
As you can see i tend to crop quiet tight in camera [no top of head]
It was just shot while she was playing - no real purpose intended but i am now thinking of using it as the front of a business card, with simple text in the lower right hand corner..
I know it needs a fair bit of photoshop but i love her lips in the cropped version

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Gee, maybe i shouldn't have posted the original!
Thanks anyway for your feedback..

#2 has my vote!

#2...the consensus.

No there isn't. The deadspace is what makes the photo. You can't be afraid of whitespace from time to time if you want your photos to have impact.

Besides, snip down the whitespace and you blow the rule of thirds. You really want half face half whitespace? And then if you crop in even further to avoid the 1/2 1/2, you end up crowding the face.

#1 because #2 looks too out of focus.

chakalakasp wrote:
No there isn't. The deadspace is what makes the photo. You can't be afraid of whitespace from time to time if you want your photos to have impact.

Besides, snip down the whitespace and you blow the rule of thirds. You really want half face half whitespace? And then if you crop in even further to avoid the 1/2 1/2, you end up crowding the face.

Yes, there is!

It's my opinion and I'm entitled to it...so there:p

And besides, it's NOT whitespace. If you had looked carefully, you would have seen the distracting darker area on the right of the photo. As a business card, though, the void on the right must stay as a place for the text. With text, the result would be quite balanced. I think it will be a fine business card.

Just bear in mind rule of thirds and any of the other composition rules are just suggestions to make a photo more interesting. It may or may not work for a specific image and it's relevance has to considered in light of the scene and the image you intend to portray.

As for 1 and 2 they're 2 different images. I prefer 2 for it's artistic boldness while 1 would make a nice memories shot. For 1 though I would have prefered to see more of the top of her head.

I am a lot more into #2 it leaves a lot to the imagination. The Pigtail really fives a lot of information and it made my imagination go nuts.

Rian