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Thoughtful cropping can help your photos stand out
Sep 15, 2009
Chris d'Aquin - Comments (1) - 973 Views | Email link
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We're getting some great submissions to our Pay for Photos monthly contest, but many of the good submissions could be great submission if they were properly cropped. Many of the photos we get from photographers could be improved by cropping them tighter, especially sports photos. So let's talk about how something as simple as cropping can help you out.
What exactly is cropping? Simply put, it is focusing on the best parts of a photo by cutting away everything else that may be distracting or doesn't add to the shot. It's adjustments to composition AFTER a photograph is taken.
Since photos are seldom perfectly framed as they are snapped, nearly every photo can benefit from some cropping. A good crop will add impact to a picture by making it easier for the viewer to see immediately the story portrayed by the photo. When you eliminate distracting signs, people and other objects from a photo, it enhances what you have already captured.
When cropping your photos, look at the shot critically and try to identify the focus. What is it that conveys the message of what's happening? Where is the excitement? Where should the attention be? After finding the answers to these questions, then you need to look for whatever might be taking away from those things and make a note of those as well.
Once you have identified these parts, you can look for a way to re-frame the image that will maximize the good and minimize the bad. As you do so, remember important photography techniques like the rule of thirds or leading lines – they may help you create a better image. And don't be afraid to make a vertical crop from a horizontal photo — or the other way around — if it creates a more compelling image.
Be careful, though, not to crop in the wrong places. In general, don't cut off body parts, especially at the wrists, ankles, or fingers. Don't zoom in and crop out a tiny area of your photo either, which will likely create a pixelized image. At times, you should consider leaving some space for breathing room.
All good photo editors have useful cropping tools, especially programs like Adobe Photoshop (both CS and Elements), Corel Paint Shop Pro, and others. Practice cropping some of your favorite photos to see what you can come up with. Not only will this help you get familiar with the tool, but it will help you be more assertive and creative with cropping your work.
If you don't own photo editing software, there are several free web sites you may want to try. Adobe has created a site called Photoshop Express. Essentially, it is a simpler version of Photoshop Elements online. Two others you might consider are Picnik, which has plenty of preset tools, and Splashup, which looks and feels like a real photo editor.
