Cropping question

[Gremlich]

There is some thought now among professional photographers that cropping off a portion of the head is okay, provided it helps the image. Here is another one of my grandson, Nye, where I did this. So, help or not?

[Iguanasan]

Cropping the top of the head off is generally OK if the crop looks intentional. In this photo, and I think you can sense it or you wouldn't have asked, it looks more like it was an accidental crop. It might work a little better if it was a square crop and you went down to about mid-forehead. With this aspect ratio it doesn't look "tight" and so it doesn't quite feel right.

[Bol Ray]

I Might have to agree with Iguanasan. If the shot is nice and tight , cropping off parts of a face feels natural. it is not somuch the case if you decide to include some background, that is there to create a reference/story.

(Someone please correct me if I am wrong), this duality is because, in a close up shot the face itself acts as the background to the more prominent features such as the eyes, nose lips and the cheek shadows. In our case the brain usually refers to the entire head/body as the foreground and the reference material (the sofa that reminds us of a particular event or place) as the background.


so May I suggest cropping off some of the background to cut it in close so we can see more of this beautiful baby in. (here by more I mean the baby covering more of the frame.)

[Gremlich]

You mean closer to this? I did not like the 1:1 so did an 4:5

[Iguanasan]

Awesome! That's the crop. This looks wonderful now.... maybe a tick more space on the left side of the frame but otherwise this looks much better.

[Mad Aussie]

I agree with Iggy ... AND that you have the concept down now with that 2nd crop.

It's my motto pretty much ... "if you are going to cut it off ... CUT IT OFF!"

[Gremlich]

Thanx mates, for the advice. Also, the axiom - it's right up there with "kill it with fire"

[asnow]

I'm certainly no expert on portrait crops, but it is my understanding if you crop make it look like you meant it and not a mistake. You accomplished that well in your second image.