Cropping advice please

[catlovanz]

Hi again, When photographing reflections, how much of the background should you keep in? Here I have cropped out the top section.
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af342/catlovanz/pond_english_garden.jpg

[talan]

Hmm, general people try to follow the rule of two-thirds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds). Please not that this is not a rule :)

[drspangle]

The point I gather is the reflection - and it's good. Except the bottom.

There are no rules :) Do what works for you

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/605/capturelo.jpg

[catlovanz]

The point I gather is the reflection - and it's good. Except the bottom.

There are no rules :) Do what works for you

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/605/capturelo.jpg
Cool Thanks, that looks much better! I am trying to be ruthless....:confused:

[smurff]

i like the amount of crop suggested there, very nice :)
like the poicture :P

-smurff

[catlovanz]

Ok how about this one, I was reluctant to crop out some of the rose, but my eye tells me it works.
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af342/catlovanz/yellow_rose_crop.jpg

[StanW]

The only rule is that there are NO rules. Do what you like best.

[drspangle]

Ok how about this one, I was reluctant to crop out some of the rose, but my eye tells me it works.
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af342/catlovanz/yellow_rose_crop.jpg

Have you got (a small) original for comparison? I'm not overly fond of the crop you have their so I'm just curious :)

[catlovanz]

Heres the original uncropped.http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af342/catlovanz/yellow_rose1-1.jpg

[drspangle]

I kinda like the original as is (more than the crop, anyway).

I don't shoot flowers though

[catlovanz]

I kinda like the original as is (more than the crop, anyway).

I don't shoot flowers though

Thats cool.....I'm just playing and learning at this stage, thanks:)

[robo git]

GOOD - playing is the best way to learn, but I have a suggestion and a challenge for you (that will help you improve): Try to do all your composition on-camera so you don't need to crop. Basically the entire view through the viewfinder should look good; if you check the photo and feel it needs cropping instead stop and take the photo again, but zoomed in or offset so the area you want in the photo becomes the photo.

That's not saying don't ever crop - you may want to change the shape of the photo, and that's a perfectly valid use of crop. But if keeping the photo remember that the more you chop out of your photo gives you less to work with and makes the photo less flexible for (eg) large prints.

[catlovanz]

GOOD - playing is the best way to learn, but I have a suggestion and a challenge for you (that will help you improve): Try to do all your composition on-camera so you don't need to crop. Basically the entire view through the viewfinder should look good; if you check the photo and feel it needs cropping instead stop and take the photo again, but zoomed in or offset so the area you want in the photo becomes the photo.

That's not saying don't ever crop - you may want to change the shape of the photo, and that's a perfectly valid use of crop. But if keeping the photo remember that the more you chop out of your photo gives you less to work with and makes the photo less flexible for (eg) large prints.

Thanks so much for these tips! I've wondering where I should go next, and this will be my next challenge :D