to crop or not to crop - that is the question

Is cropping a good thing or the spawn of the devil?

  • yes - cropping is ok

    Votes: 79 94.0%

  • no - cropping is a sin

    Votes: 5 6.0%

  • what's cropping?

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    84
mmcp42

mmcp42

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6,875
Name
Mike
Edit My Images
Yes
I've seen several posts where people have said things like "oh but I cropped it", "sorry it's cropped" and so on

Is it such a sin to crop?, especially if it's done
a) for artistic merit
b) cos the target was too small
 
Can't imagine any good reason why cropping would be considered a "sin"! I personally try not to worry myself what other people think of how I went about creating an image and more what people think of the end result!
 
I think that some of the "greats" in photography never cropped (Henri Cartier-Bresson for one, I think). So to some, its a sort of purists crime. Personally, I don't give a stuff.
 
Cropping isn't a sin but I very rarely do it. Much better to get it right first time.
 
It is very rare that I will crop a photo done for work...weddings etc, as I usually have time to frame it right there and then. However I will lightly crop if the said photo is chosen to go in an album etc, so that it is perfect (if not so already).

Photos like birds that I do, I try to get as close as I can so I can capture as much detail as I can...but this isn't always possible, so I will crop here. Although never more than around 33%...I'd just bin it if it needed anymore, purely from a QC point of view!
 
The people who say cropping is a crime are being way too precious. What if you see an awesome shot but only have an XXmm lens when you need a YYYmm lens and cant move forwards because there is a huge hole/massive fence/angry bull in the way?

Do you leave it or do you take the shot and use the legitimate tool of cropping? You take the shot.

Similarly very few 8x10s would ever have been printed as not many people use cameras with that ratio of film/sensor

Its all nonsense anyway though, its only pictures
 
HAMLET:
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To crop or not to crop;
No more crop shall be done if shot be taken with thought and care
But heart-ache and the thousand shaky shots may need so
That snap is heir to greatness, or such ridicule arise from ones crop
Devoutly to be wish'd. To crop, to not crop;

What a load of old tosh :lol:
 
Ajophotog said:
HAMLET:
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To crop or not to crop;
No more crop shall be done if shot be taken with thought and care
But heart-ache and the thousand shaky shots may need so
That snap is heir to greatness, or such ridicule arise from ones crop
Devoutly to be wish'd. To crop, to not crop;

What a load of old tosh :lol:
Click to expand...

but so eloquently put!
a round of appluase for my literate friend :clap::clap::clap:
 
Best to do it right first time, but nowt wrong with cropping in post if it will produce a better result
 
It can be a useful little "tool" along with all the others :thumbs:
 
i tend to rely on it too much, which isnt a great practice.
 
I use it if necessary... It's no unheard of for me to crop to almost 100% cos with a 250mm lens most of the birds etc are just too far away.
 
I like cropping, usually to take distracting things out from the edge or to improve the composition. It can make a big difference to a picture.
 
I do crop sometimes but I do the like the quality and cropping is cropping the quality not just the image size so I don't if I can help it ;)
 
I try and get it as right as I can in camera, however I'm not fussed if I need to crop after.
I have noticed most of my favorite images are ones I haven't cropped... I don't know, its just a nice feeling... Weird.
 
I dont see a problem with cropping a shot, in fact I have to crop a lot of my shots as all the rules seem to fly out of my head as soon as I look though the viewfinder :bang:
 
thanks for the feedback everyone
I feel a lot better about cropping now
I must admit I was getting quite paranoid about it!

andrew748 said:
I crop therefore I am
Click to expand...
:thumbs: that's the spirit!
 
Have to if I want to print 5 x 7 or 8 x 10.

Always a must with small birds.

Who cares ™, its my image :D
 
I crop 90-95% of my images, although for work stuff always to the same 3:2 ratio. There's nearly always something on the edge of the frame that would improve the shot if it wasn't there.
 
Nothing wrong with cropping at all.

If your shooting in a studio with hours to set your shot up, then there should be no need to crop.

Now shooting in a live environment things are different , birds, cars, planes and sport people tend to move fast and you just can't guarantee the perfect in camera shot.
 
I do it all the time!

I'm full of crop ;)
 
I try to fill the frame as much as possible, but with a bit of room.
That way I can crop for the different print sizes, 7x5, 8x10, 10x12, A5, A4, A3.
A while back I couldn't print something at the size I wanted it as the subject didn't fit in the crop required.

Also square is supposed to be artistic and I don't have a Holga :D
 
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