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Post Capture Cropping

Lesson 21 from: Mastering Photographic Composition and Visual Storytelling

Chris Weston

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Lesson Info

21. Post Capture Cropping

Lessons

Class Trailer
1

Your 10,001st Photograph

03:24
2

Camera Gear

03:03
3

Piece of Gear We Always Forget

03:47
4

Be a Storyteller

03:09
5

Finding Ideas For Photography - Know Your Subject

06:59
6

Cae Study - Why Are Zebras Black and White Striped

01:30
7

Photograph What You Love

02:00
8

See the Extraordinary in Ordinary Things

01:31

Lesson Info

Post Capture Cropping

the question of whether it's OK to crop it image after it's been taken is one of those thorny issues that never fails the warmer debate. And there are people on both sides of the fence, famously on re Cartier breast on wasn't a fan, he's quoted as saying. To crop, a good photograph kills its composition while cropping. A poor photograph rarely saves it now, putting aside the fact that one of Cartier Bresson's most famous images was cropped on the whole, I agree with him. I always aim to get the best composition in camera. At the same time, though, I don't think self expression, which, after all is the main purpose of photography should be constrained by the camera. For example, I regularly taken image shot in a standard format ratio of free to two and crop it into a square or panoramic. Because the composition calls for it, the camera should serve us, and now art, not the other way around. And just because an engineer in Japan or Germany decided to standardize on a particular size and ...

shape doesn't mean we should be constrained by it. In fact, some cameras today give the option of changing image format in the menu settings on. There are also legitimate reasons for framing a good composition within the confines of your viewfinder and then, because of practical limitations, cropping extraneous space afterwards. This is something ideal with all the time in wildlife photography, where getting too close to an animal might disturb it. Basically, my view is this. So long as you're not compromising the integrity of the original composition, where's the harm? The principal consideration again is intent. Quality considerations aside, out of camera cropping is perfectly legitimate if the intent was there and accounted for when you composed the image in the first place.

Ratings and Reviews

Edmund Cheung
 

Perhaps the style of presentation and simple, short, and direct messaging does not "jive" with some; but others may really love this. Yes the production of each episode is stylized and perhaps a bit formal (like a TV Show?), but there is something to be said about it. Perhaps this is not meant for professional photographers? I think of myself as decent amateur / high level photographer. I found lots of great nuggets of wisdom and inspiration from this. Especially when I an in a rut for creativity. Yes I have heard all these concepts and ideas before. BUT it is always great to hear and see a different way of presentation and voice. Please do NOT take the naysayer reviews as the end all. You should judge for yourself and watch a few episodes. If the style and content click for you, I would highly recommend this course.

Abdullah Alahmari
 

Thanks a lot to mr. Chris Weston This course is great and It is a 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 course for me. Beside the other course ( mastering the art of photography ) both courses are Complementing to each other and highly recommended.

Kai Atherton
 

While I am perhaps more advanced in my photography then this course. It is always great to be able to go back to fundamentals and remind ourselves of the basic principles, and even camera function. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and Chris's other. It is a great motivational jumpstart when lacking fresh creative idea's.

Student Work

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