I've been experimenting with square cropping lately and I'm starting to really love it. This image was captured in June of '06 while climbing Huron's north face. Let me know what you think of the composition and crop...thanks! The original version can be seen on my FLICKR account under "My Favorites".
Justin
Posted by Todd Caudle on September 19, 2008 at 1:09 AM
I think it's a really strong image. The diagonals make it real powerful.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on September 19, 2008 at 1:29 AM
I like it! Good placement of the climber, dramatic clouds, strong lines, good tonal range. I think the crop works well!
Thanks Todd and Kalin...I appreciate you guys taking the time to look!
Justin
Posted by Nick Moore on September 19, 2008 at 9:21 AM
The strong diagonals really do make it a powerful image, the B&W works well too, as does the square crop!. Clouds really stand out in B&W format, nice editing!.
Posted by John Mumaw on September 19, 2008 at 9:23 AM
Nice editing, indeed!
This one lends itself well to b&w.
I like it for the reasons already noted, as well as having a strong sense of depth.
Posted by Rick Dunn on September 19, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Excellent image! For me, it works because of the relatively simple scene. All of the elements are strong contributors - diagonal slope, mountains, clouds - but their simple graphic nature means that they don't overwhelm the climber. And so even though the climber is the smallest element, he's still clearly the focal point, and it's the sense of his adventure/accomplishment that lends power to the image.
composing in a square is a disappearing art. Very nicely done, woderful B&W
Posted by Jesse Speer on September 19, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Excellent work, all around. I don't have much to add ... but I love everything about this image.
Posted by Paul Gana on September 19, 2008 at 12:06 PM
nice image, I used to climb our mountains but I gained sooooo much weight in such a short period of time I lost my fitness level to do it and now am still struggling
Wow...thanks everyone for the nice comments! I feel like this is my first worthy post for this forum! Thanks again.
Posted by Bret Edge on September 19, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Yep, it's certainly a keeper. Excellent work, Justin.
Posted by Rand Herman on September 19, 2008 at 8:11 PM
Very nice composition and tonal range. Well done Justin.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on September 19, 2008 at 11:01 PM
I like the B&W and the climber makes it. Very nice!
Posted by Dan Walters on September 20, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Great shot! Love the crop and the BW. Very dramatic clouds as well.
Posted by Nat Coalson on September 20, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I like this too... the tonality is great, and there's an interesting combination of movement from the diagonal lines with the "solid" feel of the square crop. Nice work!
There's an element of mystery added by not seeing what he is seeing. How close is he to the top? Is there an avalanche coming towards him? A yeti?
The only suggestion I would have: leave a little more room on the left side.
When you have a subject that is looking a specific direction in the frame, that creates an invisible line in the direction they're looking. As humans we can't help but wonder "what's he looking at"? and follow the eye line.
In this case, where you have the subject so close to the edge, the effect is to follow his gaze out the left side of the frame. It gives the left edge too much dominance.
These kinds of compositions are stronger when the "lines" are "long enough" to give some room for movement within the frame.
The same applies to running animals, or bicycles, or race cars... if there's a strong direction implied, leave enough room in front of the subject for the viewer to follow the lines without running out of the frame.
Thanks for taking the time to look and respond. I agree, for the most part, with your assessment. I also wanted to include some of the mountains you see in the right side of the image to show scale, but if I had the option, I can definitely see adding some more image to the left side. Thanks again for commenting!
Posted by D J Kuklinski on September 21, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Discussion
18 repliesJustin
Justin
This one lends itself well to b&w.
I like it for the reasons already noted, as well as having a strong sense of depth.
There's an element of mystery added by not seeing what he is seeing. How close is he to the top? Is there an avalanche coming towards him? A yeti?
The only suggestion I would have: leave a little more room on the left side.
When you have a subject that is looking a specific direction in the frame, that creates an invisible line in the direction they're looking. As humans we can't help but wonder "what's he looking at"? and follow the eye line.
In this case, where you have the subject so close to the edge, the effect is to follow his gaze out the left side of the frame. It gives the left edge too much dominance.
These kinds of compositions are stronger when the "lines" are "long enough" to give some room for movement within the frame.
The same applies to running animals, or bicycles, or race cars... if there's a strong direction implied, leave enough room in front of the subject for the viewer to follow the lines without running out of the frame.
Thanks for taking the time to look and respond. I agree, for the most part, with your assessment. I also wanted to include some of the mountains you see in the right side of the image to show scale, but if I had the option, I can definitely see adding some more image to the left side. Thanks again for commenting!