Cropping 101

[TimElhajj]

I know cropping photos seems like a no brainer, but I'm not getting the best results. I have a decent digital camera that takes high resolutions images. Even with my swanky new telephoto lens, I get pictures where my little boy is a tiny central object in a field of boaring baseball diamond background.

No problem, I thought: I'll just use my crop tool. My camera takes such high resolution shots, the OS always resizes them anyhow, so I can see the enitre picture on the screen. I'm losing the ability to print large pictures, but that's not too important to me. But it's not that easy. When I crop, I end up with photos that look odd because they're different sizes. Some look better than others. I think because occasionally I end up with a close approximation of the aspect ratio.

How can I do a better job of cropping high resolution photos, so it doesn't look so obvsiously cropped.

[Morkilus]

It might help to know what software you're using.

[JPR]

It sounds to me like he's doing it in the camera.

[Lunch of Kong]

in photoshop, you can lock a ratio for the height and width of the selection tool. for portrait orientation crop, set width to 8, height to 10.

Also, you have to get twice as close to a kid as you do to an adult to get the same magnification, because adults are twice as tall. You'll probably have to get permission to get on the field to get the kind of pictures it sounds like you might want.

Or take pictures of him after the game at your leisure, and have him act like he's playing ball. :-)

[Stroker Ace]

Have JD hold him over the rim and then photoshop JD out and photoshop in a basketball so it looks like he's dunking!

[Squirrel Killer]

Even with my swanky new telephoto lens, I get pictures where my little boy is a tiny central object in a field of boaring baseball diamond background.
You're at the long end of your lens, right? Just how long is it? Move closer or buy a longer lens.


When I crop, I end up with photos that look odd because they're different sizes. Some look better than others. I think because occasionally I end up with a close approximation of the aspect ratio.
It sounds like you might have a weird aspect ratio because you're trying to get too tight on one particular thing. Plug-in a known normal aspect ratio (4:6, 5:7, 8:10), click the lock aspect ratio option, then move and re-size your crop box around as needed. Use the extra space to make a more interesting composition.

[Kunikos]

Have JD hold him over the rim and then photoshop JD out and photoshop in a basketball so it looks like he's dunking!

I don't care about your photoshopped picture of America Ferrera! *RRRRIP*

[TimElhajj]

in photoshop, you can lock a ratio for the height and width of the selection tool. for portrait orientation crop, set width to 8, height to 10.

Also, you have to get twice as close to a kid as you do to an adult to get the same magnification, because adults are twice as tall. You'll probably have to get permission to get on the field to get the kind of pictures it sounds like you might want.

Or take pictures of him after the game at your leisure, and have him act like he's playing ball. :-)

Heh, I've done the action shot trick. At this point, I just hold up the camera and shout "Web gem!" and I get inspired poses.

The ratio lock is just what I wanted to do. If I want landscape, I guess I just switch the values. Thanks so much, Roger! This will make my picture collectioin look much more uniform.

[TimElhajj]

You're at the long end of your lens, right? Just how long is it? Move closer or buy a longer lens.

Problem is I am at the short end of my wallet. Glass is expensive!


It sounds like you might have a weird aspect ratio because you're trying to get too tight on one particular thing. Plug-in a known normal aspect ratio (4:6, 5:7, 8:10), click the lock aspect ratio option, then move and re-size your crop box around as needed. Use the extra space to make a more interesting composition.

That was exaclty it, but I did a poor job of articulating the issues. This is exactly what I wanted to do.

[TimElhajj]

Have JD hold him over the rim and then photoshop JD out and photoshop in a basketball so it looks like he's dunking!

How do I talk JD into doing this? :)

[Hans Lauring]

You're at the long end of your lens, right? Just how long is it? Move closer or buy a longer lens.


It sounds like you might have a weird aspect ratio because you're trying to get too tight on one particular thing. Plug-in a known normal aspect ratio (4:6, 5:7, 8:10), click the lock aspect ratio option, then move and re-size your crop box around as needed. Use the extra space to make a more interesting composition.

What SK said.
If your software is too advanced and gives you too much freedom to fuck up, then use simpler software. Some of the editing tools sold with cameras and printers automatically locks aspect ratio and shows you the Golden Composition:

http://www.letsgodigital.org/images/artikelen/459/photo_composition_software.jpg

Using the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Composition, you should always put the main subject of your photos a bit to one side and in one of these imaginary crosses overlaying your photo. Do that when you take the photo, or fix it when you crop it.

And get closer.