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Definition | Methods of Cropping | Guidelines | Cropping People

Cropping

In the best-case scenario, a quality photograph would come directly from the camera, but improvements can be made after the shutter is released. Cropping is one of the improvement practices that can be used both before and after you take a shot. If you understand the purpose and techniques of this practice, you can make your photographs communicate more effectively and make them more usable in your publications.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nathanael Callon

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Cropping Cropping is the technique of enhancing a photograph by eliminating distractions, improving composition and, as a last consideration, fitting a photograph into a layout.

The definition is simple, but the practice of it can confound some people.

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Methods of cropping The methods to crop an image include through the viewfinder, using image-editing software and using the cropping tools in desktop publishing software.

Viewfinder The best and most preferred way to crop an image is in the viewfinder when composing the photograph. Cropping using this method involves ensuring that only the most important elements are in your shot in a manner that reflects the correct use of compositional techniques. Always be on the lookout for obvious distractions and keep them out of your frame.

Viewfinder

The image above was taken too wide. This resulted in dead space on the top and to the right. By simply moving the camera (image to the left) you can crop the image in the viewfinder to eliminate the dead space.

U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jasmine Slaton

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Desktop publishing software

Image editing software Image editing software: Cropping an image using software like Photoshop can eliminate distractions and make your composition stronger. Cropping in this fashion should not be drastic. The goal is to make the image stronger by removing distractions without completely changing the image. Remember when cropping using image editing software you should also be re-sizing the image. The size you use will depend on the medium you will be using for publishing the image. There are two settings to keep in mind when sizing your images: Image Size, and Resolution.

The Image Size is the actual dimensions of the photo when printed. Standard sizes are 2x3, 3 1/2 x 5, 4 x 6, 5 x 7, and 8 x 10. The dimen-sions are listed width x height, so a vertical image would be 5 x 7 while a horizontal image would be 7 x 5.

Resolution is the number of pixels per inch. In digital photography photos are recorded in squares, or pixels. The more pixels, the higher the quality of the photo. Your image was recorded, based on the type of camera you have, at so many pixels per inch. You do not want to crop your photos too much or else they will become pixilated (unclear due to visible squares).

Desktop publishing software Desktop publishing software: Cropping in the desktop publishing software is the worst way to crop. While it is possible, anything more than the smallest of changes can distort, pixilate and otherwise degrade the image as these programs were not designed around image editing. If you must crop your image, it is best to take the time and go back into your image editing software to make the change.

Image editing software

Original Image Removed the distraction and sized the photo to a

standard 5x7 format

Cropping an image too much can result in an imagenot suitable for publication

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Cropping guidelines Below are the basic guidelines eliminating distractions, improving composition and fitting the layout to effectively crop photographs.

This is the process of deleting unwanted or distracting elements that detract from the photograph or compete with the center of interest for attention.

y Keep one area of interest in each photo.

y Study the photo carefully and eliminate everything that does not contribute to the message or purpose of the photograph.

y Limit the number of people in the photograph to only those absolutely necessary, generally, no more than three. Every face should be at least the size of a dime when published.

y Crop ruthlessly. A picture, like a story, should say what it has to say and no more or less.

Fit the layout

Eliminating distractions Improve composition

Cropping can be done to satisfy editorial (layout) demands for a vertical or horizontal picture.

y Cropping the top or bottom creates a more horizontal photo than the original. Conversely, cropping the sides creates a more vertical photo.

y This type of cropping can damage the impact of a photograph and should only be used when absolutely necessary.

y Ultimately, your layout should be designed around the photograph, not the other way around.

To improve the composition of a photo, present the center of interest without altering the intent of the photo.

y Most photographs are cropped in a 5:4 or 3:2 ratio, but an unusually wide or tall photograph will attract attention because of its exaggerated shape.

y Generally speaking, don’t crop photographs into squares; they are considered static and lack direction or motion.

y Never crop for the sake of cropping.

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Eliminate distractions

Original image

Cropped image

A little bit of cropping gets you closer to the action and eliminates some background

distractions.

U.S. Navy photo by PH1 Nathanael T. Miller

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Eliminate distractions

Original image

Cropped image

By eliminating some of the “dead space” where the action

isn’t, you get your reader closer to the subject.

U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ruby Zarzyczny

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Eliminate distractions

Original image

Cropped image

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kelsey J. Green

What was originally shot as a horizontal image can be cropped

into a vertical image to tell a slightly different story.

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Original image Cropped image

Cropping this photo vertically still gives the airman room to move “into” the frame, while concentrating the viewer’s

attention on her.

Improve composition

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Improve composition

Original image

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class

Nathanael T. Miller

y Sometimes you may only have enough time to catch a few hurried photos of the scene.

y How could cropping help improve this photo?

Cropped image

Cropping out the legs makes a tighter photo. Many times legs add no information to a photo and may be cropped out.

U.S. Navy photo by PH1 Nathanael T. Miller

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Original image

Cropped image

This cropped version also eliminates many of the

distractions in the background and foreground.

Improve composition

U.S. Navy photo by PH3 Tom Gilligan

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Photo by U.S. Marine Cpl Trent Lowry

Fit the layout

Original image

The layout calls for a more vertical shot, and cropping this photo as such won’t take away the image’s original intent (as seen on the following page).

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Fit the layout

Cropped image

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Cropping people Special care must be taken when cropping the human shape. The cropped area should appear natural and not jarring to the eye.

Cropping portraits -- Leave a comfortable amount of space around the head when possible.

y When cropping into the head, it must be done boldly enough that it appears purposely done.

y Always crop behind the ear. Make the ear visible.

y If the neck is included, leave a bit of the shoulders in the picture to act as a pedestal for the head. Avoid the decapitated look.

y For tight mug shots, crop directly under the chin, eliminating all of the neck.

Original image

Cropped image(People in your image who are not the subject are to be treated as background/props. Crop to higlight

subject, not the backgroud)

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Rachael L. Leslie

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Cropping people Cropping full photographs -- Never amputate the subject. Don’t crop at the joints (fingers, wrists, elbows, ankles or knees).

y Avoid cropping along major intersections of the body. For example, don’t slice between the arm and shoulder, or at the Adam’s apple on the neck. When cropping out the lower half of the body, it is best done just below the rib cage.

y Unless the lower part of the subject provides significant details, crop it out. Legs and feet rarely add anything to the photo. We communicate with each other mainly through the face, so get your reader closer to the subject’s face.

Crop the legs, but don’t amputate the hands.

Official U.S. Air Force photo of aviation pioneer Jacqueline

Cochran, first commander of the Women Airforce Service Pilots

during World War II.

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Cropping people

Original image

Poorly cropped imageBy cropping this Marine in half,

we have made the photo awkward to view.

Better cropped imageThis image allows the entire action to be captured without

unnecessarily amputating body any parts.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Athanasois L. Genos

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Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course

Photojournalism

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Conclusion

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You are now armed with the information to properly enhance your publications. By knowing how to crop your images you will get clear information across to your readers. This will also help your publication clearly tell the story. More readers will enjoy your publication not only because of the information but the pleasing visuals.

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References

Home | Definition | Methods of Cropping | Guidelines | Cropping People

London, B., Upton, J., Kobre, K., and Brill, B. (2001). Photography (7th ed.). Prentice Hall

Tompkins, A. (2004). The accidental photojournalist. The Poynter Institute. http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=65438 Retrieved May 11, 2009

Hurley, G. & McDougall, A. (1975). Visual impact in print.

Kobre, K. (2000). Photojournalism: The professional’a approach, Fourth edition. Focal Press

Upton, B. & Upton, J. (1981). Photography. Little, Brown & Co.

Morely, D. (1978). The focal guide to action photography. Focal Press, London England

Kerns, R. (1980). Photojournalism: Photography with a purpose. Prentice Hall

(1987) SECNAVINST 5720.44A: Public affairs policy and regulation. http://www.cpf.navy.mil/subsite/ehimemaru/legal/Exhibit_11.pdf Retrieved May 04, 2009

Nikon D70 owners manual

SB800 Flash Manual

BPASC Photojournalism Handbook (2009)