Do you see what I see - even if I don't?

[dbarnes]

If you have pixels to spare, crop in whatever part of the process makes sense. If you're dealing with film grain, it pays to crop earlier in the process rather than later. It's a fun challenge, trying to crop in camera as much as possible.

Back in the day, I filed out the edges of my enlarger's film holder so I could print black borders around the 35mm frame when I had a good full-frame image.

 

[ibcrewin]

I see donuts. I'm not even kidding. Or maybe pretzels.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

the figure lying down is intriguing... or so I thought at the time but completely distracts from the focus of the image..

so I did this...

This is an excellent example. I agree completely with your crop. The cropped image is wonderful and a great improvement over the full frame.

 

[Sparrow]

Why is everyone so pedantic about this, when backed in to a corner he cropped, although I only know of the puddle jumper I'm sure there were others, but as a generalisation he had his prints made up to show he didn't crop and liked to get everything composed in camera.

... none the photos in the "Scrapbook" exhibition looked to be in the un-cropped full frame 2:3 ratio ... perhaps it was later that he started never cropping?

 

[jesse1dog]

Part of the cropping issue concerns the format in which you are shooting. Not all subjects will 'fit' into a 3x2 format, or any other that you chose to name. What do you do? Not take the photo, or subsequently crop? Or do you try to arrange the subject to fit the format? The choice is yours, but, you don't have to make the same decision every time.
One of the points I am making is that you do have a choice - so use the choice.

jesse

 

[shiro_kuro]

"Do you see what I see?".... I was actually trying to find something hidden in the image like a face .. gave up , scrolled down to see the third and fourth image I thought what a brilliant idea making a diptych with the chain ... then read the rest of thread ... was I way off .... nothing like reading to deep into things ....🙂:bang:

 

[jesse1dog]

shiro kuro

Just loved the length of chain that you produced.
The thread was really intended to raise the issue of 'cropping' to get a different or better representation of the photo's subject.
You make of the thread what you like.
jesse

 

[jesse1dog]

keith (kbg32)

However I was a bit taken aback at the suggestion that there was an element of 'dishonesty' associated with cropping. Not sure how this fits in with all the post-processing that has always gone on in producing a 'better' print,
Apart from the odd crop or two, the photographs I generally post in the forum have had virtually nothing done to them - they are what the camera has seen and produced. But I suppose that is not an honest depiction of what was there, or indeed what I think I saw.

jesse

 

[Jamie123]

I find both the notion that cropping is cheating aswell as the constant reference to what photographers like HCB used to do very silly. People who think this seem to treat photography as a kind of game that is to be played by set rules. Of course you can turn any activity into a game by making up rules (like, e.g. walking without treading on any lines on the pavement) but then you're just playing a game for the sake of it.

 

[bobbyrab]

I find both the notion that cropping is cheating aswell as the constant reference to what photographers like HCB used to do very silly. People who think this seem to treat photography as a kind of game that is to be played by set rules. Of course you can turn any activity into a game by making up rules (like, e.g. walking without treading on any lines on the pavement) but then you're just playing a game for the sake of it.

Personally I wouldn't have a problem with anyone cropping, it's their photograph to do what they will, but at the same time I understand the purity, or discipline might be a better word, for not cropping, at the very least it preserves the highest quality using the full file/negative.
What I don't like is a series of photos all cropped at different ratios to fit in with the subject especially so when they're just arbitrary ratios, But that's just me.

 

[Jamie123]

Personally I wouldn't have a problem with anyone cropping, it's their photograph to do what they will, but at the same time I understand the purity, or discipline might be a better word, for not cropping, at the very least it preserves the highest quality using the full file/negative.
What I don't like is a series of photos all cropped at different ratios to fit in with the subject especially so when they're just arbitrary ratios, But that's just me.

Of course there's discipline in not cropping as there's discipline in any adherence to rules you set for yourself. But you might aswell make up a rule that you have to hop on one leg while taking pictures. While this might have an impact on how the pictures turn out it's still just an arbitrary rule you made up. My point is that there's nothing particularly honest or truthful about not cropping. It's just a game some people like to play.

 

[brainwood]

there's nothing particularly honest or truthful about not cropping. It's just a game some people like to play.

Nicely put. If cropping an image will make it stronger - make it work better then why not crop it.