To Crop or Not to Crop

...that is the question.  When in doubt, probably best to stick with the original since that, at least in theory, was meant to be the photograph. Now, there will be times that even in our pre-visualization, we knew that we would need to crop the image due to the limitations of our camera/lens. But usually not. Still, when we get home and see the image on the screen, we realize that there are several potential "final" images (see my August 1, 2013 post for examples).

Sometimes its just not clear what is the "best" image size.  Here's my example from the 2010 NW Folklife Festival. The first is the uncropped version (I did change the original from full color to a "toned" photo to emphasize the mood that I felt). This one has a lot of white space, though with the rays of color emanating from the woman, it does add a overall degree of mystery and further emphasizes the woman.

 

The second is the cropped version, focusing in on the two figures, which emphasizes the coming and going of the two dancers. While the woman is still the main subject, due to her facing the camera and the modest color tone of her dress, there is a more equal weight between the two individuals.

 I like both images for very different reasons, for they really become two different concepts, with different emphasis, and there is nothing wrong with that. Just know WHY there are different ways of viewing the original image.

Three For One

I've been examining photographs that I originally shot in 2007 for a potential new photo book.  One of the many photographs that caught my eye years ago was, nonetheless, not quite "right" to my eye. I loved the motion of the Asian dancers but the considerable blank space in the middle was a bit discomforting. Still, I liked it but never did anything with it, like print or share.

Then came this evening. I reexamined the photo some seven years after its initial creation (that IS what photographers do, by the way - create!) to see what I could do.  And, not fearing to crop, I saw that the original actually contained within it two singular photos - the dancers on the right and the dance on the left. I love the cacaphany of colors in the right hand figures, and the barely visible yet recognizable face of the main dancer. Did a little bit of exposure compensation to bring out the colors a bit more, but otherwise as shot.
 

 

 

I then focused on the figure on the left and while an equally colorful subject, I did some experimentation and ended up with another point of view - that of emphasizing the motion, deemphasizing the color, and making it more ethereal. 

So, with one click of the shutter, three photographs emerged.  Would it have been better to have taken three separate photos - one of the groups (as shot), one of the dancers on the right, one of the dancer on the left? Oh, ideally, especially if one wants to do large scale enlargements.  But during a performance, there's not always time (actually, rarely the time) to set up images in advance. Work with what you have.