Sidewalk washer (how to crop?)

[Peter Klein]

Here's a "street shot" I took in San Francisco back in October. I really like this picture, and am of two minds about how to crop it.

I find the tighter crop funnier, and the looser crop shows a bit more context. Can't decide which is "better."

Here's the tight crop:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/album186/E007HoseCropTight

Here's the looser crop:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/album186/E007HoseCropLoose

Here's the original frame, no cropping:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/album186/E007HoseFullFrame

Whatcha think?

(M6TTL, 35mm Summicron, and Neopan 400.)
--Peter

 

[back alley]

cropping is a sin!!

just kidding.
i might be blowin' smoke here but i like the uncropped version the best, or at least the loose crop.
i prefer the heads 'on' the walking men.

jmho,
joe

 

[f/stopblues]

After looking at all three, I kinda think the full frame one. I really prefer tight crops most of the time, but I like the context of the people he's sharing the sidewalk with, as well as the leading lines (hose to guy, angle of the guy to the people..). If you do feel you need to get some clutter out, maybe the top edge just below the words and the left edge past the cars.

You'll probably have as many opinions as posts on this, but cropping is such a personal choice that you should probably go with what "feels right" to you, and it'll probably reflect your syle that way. I might suggest not looking at the photo at all for a week or two and coming back to it with fresh eyes.

My $.02 (or 0.1 Joes 😀)

 

[JoeFriday]

same here.. it makes it more interesting to see the sign of the building he's outside of

 

[ch1]

Agreed.

I like the original. The hotel awning gives frame and context.

I usually only crop to:

1) get rid of "superfluous" stuff - and this awning is NOT superfluous

or

2) as part of re-centering an image that was slightly "off angle" - if you get my "drift".

 

[dostacos]

Here's a "street shot" I took in San Francisco back in October. I really like this picture, and am of two minds about how to crop it.

I find the tighter crop funnier, and the looser crop shows a bit more context. Can't decide which is "better."

Here's the tight crop:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/album186/E007HoseCropTight

Here's the looser crop:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/album186/E007HoseCropLoose

Here's the original frame, no cropping:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/album186/E007HoseFullFrame

Whatcha think?

(M6TTL, 35mm Summicron, and Neopan 400.)
--Peter

I would leave the Marque and cut more of the bottom off

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I'm with Joe. He has good taste.

 

[matti]

I would cut a small amount at the bottom and also a little of the right side to balance it up. I am talking about one row of tiles.

/matti

 

[RichC]

I prefer the original - shows the context, as others say. And compositionally I think it works.

That said, if I was asked to crop it, I'd do it like this:*

http://www.richcutler.mistral.co.uk/temp/crop.jpg

To my eye, this strengthens the existing composition, mainly by losing the distractions in the upper left.


(* Not sure of etiquette on RFF - if it's not the done thing to repost others' work to show variant cropping, processing, etc., in cases like this, let me know and I'll delete it. In any case, it's in my temporary folder, and things in there end up deleted after a few weeks anyway.)

 

[RML]

I would leave the Marque and cut more of the bottom off

Indeed. Less foreground pavement is what struck me as first option. The men in distance need their heads IMO. The marque should stay too. Just my opinion, of course.

 

[rover]

another vote for the uncropped version

 

[3js]

A tight crop for me, please, but the water post on the left need some more room. I don´t think the people need their heads either...

 

[lido]

The original works for me

 

[Andrew Touchon]

I agree with Rich.

 

[DougK]

I liked the uncropped version myself. As Chris said, put it away for a week or two and come back to it, then go with what feels right to you.