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To crop or not to crop? + repost

Discussion

14 replies
Posted by David Sewell on July 26, 2009 at 10:02 AM
To crop or not to crop? + repost
... that is the question. Yesterday, at Elmley, I had an encounter with a ringed plover, a species I have always found difficult to photograph. This time was no exception, it came close enough but was always on the nearest shore to the hide, with a lot of vegetation between me and it. On the shot I am posting there is a lot of mush on the left. Do you prefer to see this, or would you rather I went for a tighter crop? I did that intially, but now prefer this version.

David

D200, 600mm Nikon, 1/500th @ f5, 250 iso, crop about 25% of original
Posted by John Robinson on July 26, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Personally I would crop a bit tighter David, but not too much. You'd still have a bit of mush in the botom right.
John
Posted by Kathy Carpenter on July 26, 2009 at 12:33 PM
I think it is more natural as is. Great shot.
Posted by Peter Woods on July 26, 2009 at 12:40 PM
I find the green blur on left distracting, I would crop about 2cm just to lose that
Posted by Bob Cox on July 26, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Crop David , the picture looses nothing, in fact gains a bit of impact ,but then I like close crops.

Bob.
Posted by jack chapman on July 26, 2009 at 1:24 PM
i don't think the green blur adds anything, i'd crop it, nice image either way
Posted by David Sewell on July 26, 2009 at 2:15 PM
A majority for cropping so far. I am now attaching the shot I was originally going to post for comparison. I ended up rejecting this one as I thought the bird too large in the frame.

Thanks for all your comments though, very much appreciated.

David
Posted by Craig Jones on July 26, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Both shots are great and I'd be well pleased with, but the second one is the best for me, lovely detail and colours,nice work :wink: :wavey:
Posted by Ian Butler on July 26, 2009 at 2:41 PM
The crop above works well but if you dont want to keep the aspect ratio then a panoramic crop might be good. The bird would still be large in the frame but might work and theres enough room for the plover to walk into.
Ian
Posted by Peter Woods on July 26, 2009 at 2:56 PM
The crop were much better, well done :smile:
Posted by Craig Nash on July 26, 2009 at 3:02 PM
I like your final image
Posted by David Kjaer on July 26, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Hi David

I like both images - for me probably between the two, it needs a reasonable crop as the setting has no strong features!

David :toast:
Posted by Sandra Hendrikse on July 27, 2009 at 2:31 AM
I prefer the second image.
Posted by Brett Lewis on July 27, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Second for me David and I assume it's from a hide and therefore you couldn't get any lower for a better vantage point. But it's nice NH image of the subject.

Brett :toast:
Posted by Fran French on July 27, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Yep the second one for me too David, showing a very nice bit of detail there, nice one.

Fran :toast: