composition

[Hackman]

Hi all,

please give me some feedback on these pics. I can't decide which composition I prefer.
Thanks!
Mark

[Dick Roadnight]

Hi all,

please give me some feedback on these pics. I can't decide which composition I prefer.
Thanks!
Mark

I think I would crop off the left, and paint in some extra space on the right, as the subject is looking out of the picture.

[PeterAit]

I like them both but have a preference for the 2nd because there are fewer extraneous elements at the image edges. Too bad about that plant at the lower left!

[degrub]

What mood were you trying to convey ? i felt two different impacts from these two crops -  determination (1), weighed down (2)

[Hackman]

Well, this is a woman visiting a buddhist ceremony at a monastery in Tibet. And while there were about two hundred tourists around (which by luck I managed to keep out of the picture), she was the only one I felt was actually there for the right reason. What seemed to me like her daughter was with her and she was very much from a new generation with mobile phone, flashy sunglasses and clearly there for her mum and not for her self. So I guess the mood I am seeking is something like "Devotion", with a hint of desperation. That's why I think she does not need very much room on the right side of the photo to look out off: the future might not be very long anymore.

Thanks for your suggestions, I like your crop on the top most.

[RSL]

Hackman, Always take a lot of salt with suggestions from the LuLa croppers. There's absolutely nothing you could put on here without having a half dozen suggestions for cropping, many of which would degrade a good original, uncropped shot. What does the original look like? As far as impact is concerned there's nothing to choose between the two quite good arrangements in your original post.

[Hackman]

Russ,
the top one is the uncropped version as it was shot. I don't know..there's hardly any difference. The lower one has more focus on the woman. The top left with the wires seems to clutter the image and yet to cut it off doesn't seem quite right. Maybe because it makes her look a bit smaller or something and places here head on the crossing of the one-thirds grid.  Maybe that's it.
Cheers!
Mark

[Rob C]

I prefer the top one, because I like the effect of those wires; it's a different, hard texture and adds to the sense of the frailty of mankind.

On the other hand, if you want to crop for the hell of it, why not just leave as is except to bring the top right down to skim the lady's head? I think she needs context, so I'd keep the sides as they are. What's wrong with weeds? They also serve who only...

Rob C

[wolfnowl]

I prefer the top one, because I like the effect of those wires; it's a different, hard texture and adds to the sense of the frailty of mankind.

I'm with Rob here.  I'd leave it as it was.

Mike.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I'm with Rob here.  I'd leave it as it was.

Mike.

Me too.

Eric

[feppe]

Fully agree with Russ and others, uncropped version is the strongest composition. I'd consider darkening the plan on the lower left corner.

Great capture, too, love her expression.

[RSL]

Mark, I'm with Rob, Mike, and Eric. It bears out what I've said on LuLa, probably ad nauseum: the image that makes you raise your camera usually is the best one. Cropping rarely if ever improves a well composed, well executed shot made from a first impression. In this case I think the stringed end of the sacred object she's holding is a very important part of the composition, but the thing that gives the picture its power is the expression on the woman's face. It reminds me of the woman's face in Cartier-Bresson's Cardinal Pacelli in Montmarte. If you're not familiar with that photograph, you can see it at http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/LargeImage.aspx?image=/lotfinderimages/d50568/d5056800x.jpg. See if you don't agree.

[RSL]

Sorry, Harri, I was typing while you were posting. I'm not sure about changing the tone on the plant. As it is, the plant is part of a diagonal that strikes upward from the lower left toward the upper right. The "upwardness" of that diagonal is important.

[PeterAit]

"Mark, I'm with Rob, Mike, and Eric. It bears out what I've said on LuLa, probably ad nauseum: the image that makes you raise your camera usually is the best one. Cropping rarely if ever improves a well composed, well executed shot made from a first impression."

I must disagree. The statement would be true if (a) good compositions always existed in the real world in the same aspect ratio as your camera, and (b) you can get close enough to the subject to frame it properly. I admit it's particularly satisfying when no cropping is needed, but that's not often the case.

[popnfresh]

I don't have a strong feeling either way about cropping these. People like to gripe about cropping around here and it can get pretty tedious. Do what you like. I do like #1 better, however. In #2 her blouse and her cheek have blocked highlights. The light is softer and more appealing in #1.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

"Mark, I'm with Rob, Mike, and Eric. It bears out what I've said on LuLa, probably ad nauseum: the image that makes you raise your camera usually is the best one. Cropping rarely if ever improves a well composed, well executed shot made from a first impression."

I must disagree. The statement would be true if (a) good compositions always existed in the real world in the same aspect ratio as your camera, and (b) you can get close enough to the subject to frame it properly. I admit it's particularly satisfying when no cropping is needed, but that's not often the case.

Russ said "usually", while Peter said "always" (emphases added by me).
I'm with Russ on this one (although I probably do crop more often than he does.)

Cheers,

Eric

[Hackman]

Thanks very much for all comments!
@Russ. I agree she does kind of have the same expression as in the Bresson photo.
I wouldn't mind making more photo's that remind people of his work!

Cheers
Mark

[Rob C]

Mark, I'm with Rob, Mike, and Eric. It bears out what I've said on LuLa, probably ad nauseum: the image that makes you raise your camera usually is the best one. Cropping rarely if ever improves a well composed, well executed shot made from a first impression. In this case I think the stringed end of the sacred object she's holding is a very important part of the composition, but the thing that gives the picture its power is the expression on the woman's face. It reminds me of the woman's face in Cartier-Bresson's Cardinal Pacelli in Montmarte. If you're not familiar with that photograph, you can see it at http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/LargeImage.aspx?image=/lotfinderimages/d50568/d5056800x.jpg. See if you don't agree.

But did you spot a plump Adolf in the top left corner?

Bunker? What bunker?

Rob C

[RSL]

I must disagree. The statement would be true if... you can get close enough to the subject to frame it properly.

Peter, If getting close enough is a frequent problem there are several places where you can buy a zoom lens that'll solve the problem.

Speaking of which, here's one where a crop makes sense. I recently bought one of Nikon's new 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lenses, and I was testing it. As I walked down the street I caught this one at 250mm. I had less than a second to get it and there was no way to get any closer. Those two will be all right provided she doesn't set his shirt on fire with her cigarette or he pours beer down the front of her jacket.

On the other hand, the more I look at the two side-by-side the more I'm not sure a crop is appropriate.

[Rob C]

They deserve each other.

If she catches fire, then he can put her out.

Ist version gives context...

Rob C