One of the most important attributes that separates a fine art image from a snap shot is its composition. A photograph of even a
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzt_Q3gwu5Q2QmBaKj3wIo1YMQ7VO3eLUmlqY9p2erCkHPT_xFuLr364nLO0Vp6wQeIjQraPBERoOOSCdZ7UbsNoqn44Kvr-cLyuQ9t9GFXP-IlNl9qOZmt6skgwfHrXJ7z7wN4_a5bqoZ/s1600/08022SwanzeySugarShackWinter.jpg)
In Camera
One of the most obvious signs of a snap-shot is when the subject is
![]() |
Move in and Arrange Head Room |
![]() |
Audrey's Trail |
The primary advantage of cropping and composing within the camera is that you are using all the pixels available on your sensor
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaV8pHY61bxdDuGXsP6_XMp0YBs6fdYwsChW2fFx8Ruq3Sx2kux2i_6QseACCuZHKuYp31VfxmfWsr5CiJKlzZzWz4DB7GSxG2h-7QHlpEhIw_ulFKa8A65TJbxquRng-cAOtcL3RGDiL/s1600/090222TwinsChesterfieldNH.jpg)
The Tyranny of the Viewfinder
The camera viewfinder and sensor imposes a fixed frame around your composition. As you move in you can explore various
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EafzrXGMfhDuNk8YdSJzOHJy9_hFfqAosP4N7Zfv10Hgt4d8qXJKJ9Cb6rkMnhZC9LomWqj_N6Shf4D-dkoLsYW8RICTtrsmvxEiQcBZ8EzlV0JELusL-U2p4rT8geLn8DhjwOXXqER4/s1600/071016LengtheningShaddowsChesterfieldNH.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y4GY8BKPTGHYKcsLr6nVw4F5M_TfxybuXirKLLuaJBuz9qQHnDCH_rn5OseK4GclUpmlK5NaXBGTe6Ys6bS-qu61r6LncohdQfCGl2I_xQUjcYPzH_YOAep0TTKJ0MIx9m9qGXdf8JJd/s1600/101015_7x10.jpg)
It is great to move in to your subject to get the best use of your expensive pixels, but today's camera’s have resolution to spare and we can afford to allow a little buffer to assure that everything of importance will be preserved after the final crop. By all means, crop in the camera, but do it carefully and with an eye toward the options for the final composition.
Photoshop can add a Rule of Thirds grid while Cropping |
The capability to crop an image is basic in any photo editing software. As is true in the camera, post-processing cropping is done to fine tune the composition and to eliminate distracting elements along the borders. It is also used to resize the picture for particular output dimensions. It is unusual to find a raw image that can't be strengthened by careful cropping, but before discussing post-processing cropping, I must mention one important basic rule. Again it has to do with preserving your options.
![]() |
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador |
Before All Else, Do No Harm
Before I start cutting and slashing, I always save a full size version
![]() |
Rethinking the camera Crop |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzkSL7sznUks_g6zi0WVZO4a2cKZuItjwPT4oQMQ6ldWtveYaJRJdocpD-tVKMOW9UQIcQre5DfRIa7Z45HwcHwxnvuWRX1QZVrh-GBaf_GCb1rqcpak9ZadYz5vmCNBFB0jYggk7RMJR/s1600/130319WhoseWoodsTheseAreChesterfieldNH.jpg)
Cut and Slash, Why Do We Crop?
Stated most simply, cropping is the process of controlling what the viewer will see and just as importantly, what he won't see.
Improving Composition
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG_cdUN7xZK9CXnCKzxHKdFhGB5MZSv7i9xn5BT9i3lW7YGXO3hkO0ecK3mh4wOr9pCGEGaAtF8j-5ztXnDt_eg-dLoFYZ0ewtHy7LWw02j6-sKQn1Gy9PgyUFkas9aEeqprTNbGKPl3a/s1600/OnTheCourseCropS.jpg)
Removing Edge Distractions
A basic step in editing an image is to scan the edges of the frame
![]() |
Newfane Courthouse, Clonning Needed |
Sizing
Final cropping is usually designed to size the image for the
![]() |
Not all leading lines are straight |
Cropping is perhaps the most basic tool for creating powerful compositions. It can be painful to cut away our precious pixels, but, in photography, it is important to understand that less is often very much more.
Thanks, Jeff, this is a very helpful post. I always enjoy looking at your work.
ReplyDeleteCropping, composition, sizing are all important factors for doing any type of basic or expert level photography.
ReplyDeleteDigital Photography for Beginners
I think that thanks for the valuabe information and insights you have so provided here.
ReplyDeleteBest Digital Camera Under 200
You have done a great job on this article. It’s very readable and highly intelligent. You have even managed to make it understandable and easy to read. You have some real writing talent. Thank you.
ReplyDeletefree images with quotes
I think this is an enlightening post and it is extremely helpful and learned. accordingly, I might want to thank you for the endeavors you have made in composing this article.digital camera
ReplyDeleteawesome idea. i love this place, thanks. you can see my website here clippingplace
ReplyDeleteIn laymen terms image quality is how much detail is in the image, the lower the quality the less detail there is, if the quality is too low then the image looks blocky, if the quality is too high then the file size grows and this really matters if you are emailing or showing the image on the onlineconvertfree.com
ReplyDeletePrimevideocommytv
ReplyDelete