To Crop, or Not?

pwrbkdude · 27-08-2007, 20:22

There is no post-processing involved here. Just a straight crop. Or is the original better? thoughts??? Pimp if you like.

Whipspeed · 27-08-2007, 20:37

Rather like the crop on this one, as the foreground rocks in the uncropped version are not that interesting. As for post processing, I would probably adjust the curves to make the colours a bit stronger and sharpen a little.

**Angela** · 27-08-2007, 20:40

I prefer the cropped version too

Charlotte · 27-08-2007, 22:42

Uncropped version for me, love it

My only suggestion would be to clone out the telephone wires + poles

nichpr · 27-08-2007, 23:09

I know someone will say it. So, I may as well be the first...... I like the crop you've made but I would go one step farther and crop the left side as well. There is little there that adds to the image (other than the cloud) and it would allow you to put the subject a bit off center. In fact, if there is more image to be had to the right of the existing margin, I would add that in proportion to what you crop off of the left.
Nice colors overall - well done!
- Paul

dogdots · 28-08-2007, 17:14

I like both. Different views for different likes/dislikes. I am courious as to what lays more to the left. Is this an island or not, etc. Do you have a shot that shows that? I agree with Paul to crop off some of the left side---

You did well on the colors. It looks calming. I would love to see a picture of this place when the water isn't so calm.

JMitchell · 28-08-2007, 17:19

I'd crop, but use the bottom half as an abstact but absolutely don't get rid of it, it's really well exposed for, so put it to good use

***Dave*** · 28-08-2007, 19:47

Why not have the best of both pics.....oh & a bit of Mono

dogdots · 28-08-2007, 19:50

Dave the mono looks nice. Real nice.

Charlotte · 28-08-2007, 20:25

Lovin' Dave's mono version

pwrbkdude · 28-08-2007, 21:01

but Dave, you forgot to clone out the wires on the left as well!!! most excellent job! very crafty! unfortunately I am a but of a purist and don't think I could really stand behind a piece that really altered how things look. I dunno.. what's everyone's thought on that subject?

**Dabhand16** · 28-08-2007, 21:23

I think the factor has to be if you want to consider your picture as a record shot, or a shot that has been made more pleasing to the eye.

For a record shot, there can be no changes other than contrast/brightness etc.

I've related this story before, but it is still relevent.

I was in Corfe village, probably more than 30 years ago. I was happily wandering around taking some pictures. I encountered an artist who was painting the view from the church looking down the high street. "I have the advantage over you" he said. " In your photograph, you will see the car parked in front to the shop, the ugly telegraph pole and wires just down the road and the sky will be grey and boring. In my picture, there will be no car or telegraph pole spoiling the character of the village, and it will be a lovely Summer's day".

Now, thanks to Photoshop, I too can make my pictures more pleasing to the eye and (for instance) capture some of the charm of yesteryear. I cannot see anything wrong with this, and I certainly do not feel any discomfort in presenting what I think is a pleasing image. Would the beholder really prefer that cellphone tower to be peeping over the period buildings? Or should the artist with his brushes and palette not have omitted the elements he thought spoilt the village? Did he feel uncomfortable presenting his painting?

I'd say not.

***Dave*** · 28-08-2007, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwrbkdude

but Dave, you forgot to clone out the wires on the left as well!!! most excellent job! very crafty! unfortunately I am a but of a purist and don't think I could really stand behind a piece that really altered how things look. I dunno.. what's everyone's thought on that subject?

Can understand either stance.... it's all according to what you want from a shot. Funnily enough I left the wires on purpose to keep some truth to the shot, yet chopped half the sea out

I'm wondering if I was just trying to show a version of shot if one had taken shot a bit lower to bring the shoreline a bit closer to the the main subject ....who knows

. Anyway it takes a cracking initial shot, for any successful pimp

Charlotte · 28-08-2007, 22:29

The telephone wires + poles aren't nearly as conspicuous in the mono version as they are in the colour original.

***Dave*** · 28-08-2007, 22:34

....but we know they are there....so in the words of the CLASH "should they stay or should they go ?"

Charlotte · 28-08-2007, 22:40

Mono - Stay. Not distracting enough to warrant fiddling about.
Colour - Go. Much more noticeable against the blue sky.

27-08-2007, 20:22	#1 (permalink)
pwrbkdude New here Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38	To Crop, or Not? There is no post-processing involved here. Just a straight crop. Or is the original better? thoughts??? Pimp if you like.

27-08-2007, 20:37	#2 (permalink)
Whipspeed Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1,281	Re: To Crop, or Not? Rather like the crop on this one, as the foreground rocks in the uncropped version are not that interesting. As for post processing, I would probably adjust the curves to make the colours a bit stronger and sharpen a little.

27-08-2007, 20:40	#3 (permalink)
Angela Pixalo Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wimbledon Posts: 5,744	Re: To Crop, or Not? I prefer the cropped version too

27-08-2007, 22:42	#4 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,649	Re: To Crop, or Not? Uncropped version for me, love it My only suggestion would be to clone out the telephone wires + poles

27-08-2007, 23:09	#5 (permalink)
nichpr Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 828	Re: To Crop, or Not? I know someone will say it. So, I may as well be the first...... I like the crop you've made but I would go one step farther and crop the left side as well. There is little there that adds to the image (other than the cloud) and it would allow you to put the subject a bit off center. In fact, if there is more image to be had to the right of the existing margin, I would add that in proportion to what you crop off of the left. Nice colors overall - well done! - Paul

28-08-2007, 17:14	#6 (permalink)
dogdots Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Dakota Posts: 576	Re: To Crop, or Not? I like both. Different views for different likes/dislikes. I am courious as to what lays more to the left. Is this an island or not, etc. Do you have a shot that shows that? I agree with Paul to crop off some of the left side--- You did well on the colors. It looks calming. I would love to see a picture of this place when the water isn't so calm.

28-08-2007, 17:19	#7 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,416	Re: To Crop, or Not? I'd crop, but use the bottom half as an abstact but absolutely don't get rid of it, it's really well exposed for, so put it to good use

28-08-2007, 19:47	#8 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,645	Re: To Crop, or Not? Why not have the best of both pics.....oh & a bit of Mono

28-08-2007, 19:50	#9 (permalink)
dogdots Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Dakota Posts: 576	Re: To Crop, or Not? Dave the mono looks nice. Real nice.

28-08-2007, 20:25	#10 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,649	Re: To Crop, or Not? Lovin' Dave's mono version

28-08-2007, 21:01	#11 (permalink)
pwrbkdude New here Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38	Re: To Crop, or Not? but Dave, you forgot to clone out the wires on the left as well!!! most excellent job! very crafty! unfortunately I am a but of a purist and don't think I could really stand behind a piece that really altered how things look. I dunno.. what's everyone's thought on that subject?

28-08-2007, 21:23	#12 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,694	Re: To Crop, or Not? I think the factor has to be if you want to consider your picture as a record shot, or a shot that has been made more pleasing to the eye. For a record shot, there can be no changes other than contrast/brightness etc. I've related this story before, but it is still relevent. I was in Corfe village, probably more than 30 years ago. I was happily wandering around taking some pictures. I encountered an artist who was painting the view from the church looking down the high street. "I have the advantage over you" he said. " In your photograph, you will see the car parked in front to the shop, the ugly telegraph pole and wires just down the road and the sky will be grey and boring. In my picture, there will be no car or telegraph pole spoiling the character of the village, and it will be a lovely Summer's day". Now, thanks to Photoshop, I too can make my pictures more pleasing to the eye and (for instance) capture some of the charm of yesteryear. I cannot see anything wrong with this, and I certainly do not feel any discomfort in presenting what I think is a pleasing image. Would the beholder really prefer that cellphone tower to be peeping over the period buildings? Or should the artist with his brushes and palette not have omitted the elements he thought spoilt the village? Did he feel uncomfortable presenting his painting? I'd say not. __________________ Graham

28-08-2007, 22:29	#14 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,649	Re: To Crop, or Not? The telephone wires + poles aren't nearly as conspicuous in the mono version as they are in the colour original.

28-08-2007, 22:34	#15 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,645	Re: To Crop, or Not? ....but we know they are there....so in the words of the CLASH "should they stay or should they go ?"

28-08-2007, 22:40	#16 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,649	Re: To Crop, or Not? Mono - Stay. Not distracting enough to warrant fiddling about. Colour - Go. Much more noticeable against the blue sky.