Your „musings and ramblings“ are a delight to watch, Alister. I, too, often take a very flexible approach to cropping as not every scene is the same. Yeah, maybe I’m not consistent in my shooting; but hey, my interpretation of a scene is not limited to standard crop ratios. And what are standards anyway? 4x5, 3x4, 6x7… all standards? Yes, and many more! 😁 Then again, I have a Nikon Z and my cropped pixels are not maintained. So when I shoot I also often just „commit“ to the ratio I chose when shooting.
I used to crop randomly. I didn’t know any better. When I first used Lr the padlock was in the unlocked position and I knew no better. Until it came time to make my first print. 😳. Oops! Yeah, after that I perused the different standard frame sizes and cropped to something I could work with. But I so rarely print. Why not go back to my old unrefined ways? 😁 I’ll sometimes crop to my desired spots and then find a aspect ratio preset that’s the closest so there’s a standard I can adhere to if I ever do need to print. 🤷♀️ Thanks Alister!
Thanks Alister…For me having DSLR’s for 40+ years means that I virtually see in 3:2 and frame in camera to that purpose (except verticals where I tend to leave some room for cropping…as you suggest they often look too narrow). There are occasions where I crop to a standard size for printing purposes as I use a commercial printer. Also on occasions I crop to personal choice and then resize to standard ratios for printing. I do miss the ability to crop within camera but that may come upon a future upgrade. Glad that you seem to be over your covid episode.
An important topic and as you stated a personal choice. I have found that when entering a portfolio competition a standard crop is important and presents a cohesive body of work. Some of my personal work that I display as a single image may be cropped to choice. Thanks for the video
Sometimes I shoot wider than what I want to include knowing I can crop later to simplify the scene. If I’m presenting a group of photos I keep them in the same aspect ratio. But individually displayed photos can be whatever aspect ratio I feel is best for that particular photo. I sometimes like to display panoramas and I wouldn’t want to be limited by a certain favorite or signature aspect ratio.
I try to shoot in the field a little wider than i usually intend on showing / cropping the image… this allows me a little scope for cropping… especially with the 45mp R5… there is nothing worse i find in wishing you had not zoomed in so much in the field… especially if its a location you cant return to easily! The R5 gives such flexibility to crop as im never printing too large… I then make my final crop decisions at the computer… id rather be looking at the pixels to crop than wish id not zoomed in too tight! I tend to use 6x4, 4x3, 8x10, 16x9, 1x1, 2x1, 2.4x1 and 3x1 which are the standard options in affinity. I’ve occasionally taken a portrait shot and wildly cropped it to a landscape 2x1 format…. Its fine for a social media post! 😂
Interesting. I've never felt constrained previously by a 'standard' ratio when cropping. However, during the course of this year I've found myself gravitating to the use of 1:1 or 16:7 (itself not a 'standard' ratio) when creating work on specific projects. I see that as merely part of my photographic progression and reserve the right to use whatever aspect ratio appeals aesthetically at the time!
When it comes to landscape photography... I just got back to it so I can't say much. But when shooting other stuff in the past... usually I composed and shot everything with a specific crop in my mind. Usually standard crops... is easier to find frames in case I want to do a print... rather than custom size ones for some "not a standard" crop 😁. Have an amazing week.
I do my best to fit my imagined image to the native aspect ratio of my cameras 3:2 where possible. Sometimes with a little spare at the edge of frame for wiggle room and poor framing technique. At processing I nearly always reduce or rearrange the taken image to suit my mood or spot a more interesting viewpoint. Nature and creative choices don't really fall neatly into preassigned aspect ratios in my view. Sometimes yes and usually through a slave mentality of historically being self bound to your cameras aspect ratio. For me the image might be around the native 3:2 or more likely decimal alternatives 3,24 :1.76 whatever😂😂 or a totally random AR. Cheers
I have printed a few zines using images ex camera but recently I got the book "American Photographs" out of the library which completely ignores this or aspect ratio cropping - such a random sizing in this book which is a classic and a delight in my view, being old school. I am interested in trying this for printed page presentation. I see many of your commenters stick to aspect ratios for very good reasons. Greetings from New Zealand.
If "wrong crop" means not shooting for feel but shooting to fit into standards then, yes I have been cropping wrong for many many years! LOL Now, however, I am working on cropping for feel...I find it is an adventure as each crop of one image will provoke different emotions. The Snapshot feature in LightRoom is a game changer- something I use almost every time I edit now, thanks to a tip in one of your previous videos: Landscape Photography: Is this the most powerful & underused feature of Adobe Lightroom? Thanks for the video!
Thanks Alister, very interesting. I've found that where I've cropped to suit the content and image is close to a square bit not quite there it looks wrong, in that case I'll use the Aspect in Lightroom transform to fit it precisely to a square. That technique can also be used to help with the consistency issue you mentioned. Might be too much manipulation for some but it works for me.
If I'm only displaying digitally I don't care about the crop ratio. But my best work usually winds up printed so I mostly crop to my standard paper sizes - ISO, Square, 5x4 or 3x2. You can, of course, trim the paper to fit, but then you also have to trim the mounting paper/card and find a frame that suits. It's all much easier if you stick to the standard ratios.
I crop for content if I'm just publishing a single image on for example FaceBook, but for a series I'll usually try to find a good crop that is OK for most/all images (often 1:1). A third option is if I know images are going to be displayed on a particular format (usually 16:9 for a screen) then I'll look for crops that use as much of the screen as possible.
Aspect ratio is typically one of the variables I wind up overlooking at the time of shooting I would enjoy a video/discussion of that topic as only you can present it. It is a powerful tool that I want to employ properly. Cropping (versus crapping) is an easy fix but I'd rather do it right going into the photo. Thxs, Bill
Haha, you noticed my little slip of the tongue 👅 no script 😂 yeah, things like that are great to talk about. I’ll do some when I’m on Iceland in a couple of weeks.
Very helpful reminder, thank you, as there is so much to consider when doing a shoot from camera settings to post processing techniques, etc. As for future topics, what I rarely if have ever seen covered are image examples that include a specific focus point highlighted. We get the ISO, aperture and shutter data for a given image, but never where in the image was the focus point, given the settings why was that chosen and what impact did that have on the resulting image. Many of us would consider that a critical teaching element to round out that technical information and its relevance to achieving the final image we seek. Often a reference is made to depth of field and hyperfocal tables, but rarely to a series of specific images highlighting the targeted focus point. Thank you for your consideration.
Thank you ever so much Alister! To be honest, it has been your suggestions on cropping that made me experimenting with this technique in the first place. As I use Sony cameras I can‘t crop in camera and have to imagine the crop when I take the picture. I learned to love the 1x1 format, different panoramas and the 5x4 (or 4x5) the most. Thanx for that. I‘m looking forward to your experiences in Scotland and Northern Spain. Kind regards, Martin
Awesome mate, I hugely appreciate your feedback and to hear I’m adding value. I’m looking forward to getting in the field as well and sharing those experiences
Ha, we Sony users have to learn to do it mentally - all a matter of planning and previsualization...seriously! 🤣Ok, Alister knows me. I'm an outlaw mostly switching off my brain when I am in the field, letting myself be overwhelmed by inspiration. But I do crop with intent in post 😉. Thank you for this one, Alister!
I have for the past 15 years cropped using custom cropping I just felt less constrained in the creative process, but ironically most of the crops fit to a standard ratio when cropped, I guess that is just my eye. but the freedom custom cropping gives you is important and opens up great possibilities in what may be an image that on first glance seems ordinary, but I agree in your observations on a body of work being of an equal ratio. I appreciate your videos Alister and look forward to them each week (:
These are some of the most valuable videos on photography for me. I find these more philosophical videos, more helpful, then the standard how to type video. Personally, I love them. As it relates to cropping, my opinion has also changed, but in the opposite direction of yours I used to crop for content, but I found myself cropping everything to either 1x1 or 4 x 5 lately. I honestly haven’t given much thought as to why until this video. I have to think about it.
I print a lot of my images and found that I normally crop to 4x5 or 1x1 and like the feeling of many of my images that way, but sometimes 16x9 or 3x2 is best for the image. I can normally make a standard ratio fit but if the image really calls for it I will unlock and adjust. It’s easier for me as I don’t yet have your critical eye for small things that detract. Your videos are some of the best around and I keep leaning and incorporating ideas from them.
I try to stick with four aspect ratio 4x5-1x1-16x9 and sometimes 2.35x1. The process it's to crop freely on the picture I'm seeing than I look at the crop that fit with my free cropping. I agree that for a body of work I would think about homogeneity. Thanks Alister for this new vidéo
It has been about a year since I decided to take photo back seriously and yes, I have been cropping to content more than to standards. I don't know if I will ever publish a book or any other serious content but every piece of information is something to consider and add to your set of mental tools at the time of capturing images, thank you for the content, I believe every one that follows you appreciates it. I certainly do.
Thanks so much for the feedback I very much appreciate it. As I say in the videos I’ve relaxed my stance on this a lot in recent months ❤️ thanks again
I shoot 3:2 and crop each image so it has the best composition. 4:3, square , 4:5 or 16:9 usually. Normally that gives me enough choice to have the best composition AND finding some standard frames, in case I want to print something.
Hi Alister, thanks so much for sharing your opinion on this topic. I've been wondering (and asking various people) about their approach, never really got a "usable" answer except from the ones who said they crop as they like - which is often my approach as well. I feel there are so many "standard formats" already that I could easily fit into one of them anyway (or be very close) so why even bother? However, your advice to be consistent in a collection, gallery, display is very useeful and highly appreciated. Thanks so much again for sharing it with all of us!
Great video, Alister. And indeed thought provoking! In the past, I have tended to crop to “standard” aspect ratios (and often found the associated compromises frustrating), mainly because I didn’t realize I could unlock the settings. You just taught an old dog a new trick! Thank you. I too am drawn to a 1:1 format, and sometimes feel I over use it. It’s just such a pleasing shape. Now I am going to have to revisit a lot of my photos, and see if I can improve them by tweaking the aspect ratio,
I wouldn't want to be constrained by prefixed notions of cropping. I would love to use any aspect ratio that suits each image to give a true representation of the subject. Treating the subject fairly is more important.
What about the lost ratio 6 by 7? There was many medium format cameras in that format but you don’t see many photos in that format any more. ( I use it quite often just to be awkward)
I’ve always found your videos interesting and thought provoking although I’m not yet ready to try to take my photography to some of the extremes that you take yours to on occasion. Specifically on cropping, do you have thoughts on diptychs and triptychs which are related?
Well you didn’t really answer the question for me. Did you notice how American the title is and how we are all slowly merging into US English? A man of your education might have used “Are we incorrectly cropping our photographs”? Sadly we have reached a stage where this possibly sounds a little grand! A funny world, but thanks for your thoughts.
Your „musings and ramblings“ are a delight to watch, Alister.
I, too, often take a very flexible approach to cropping as not every scene is the same. Yeah, maybe I’m not consistent in my shooting; but hey, my interpretation of a scene is not limited to standard crop ratios. And what are standards anyway? 4x5, 3x4, 6x7… all standards? Yes, and many more! 😁 Then again, I have a Nikon Z and my cropped pixels are not maintained. So when I shoot I also often just „commit“ to the ratio I chose when shooting.
Yeah, I shot Nikon for ages and was always a bit frustrated by the deleted cropped pixels. Thanks so much for commenting
OOOH a pat on the back and a gold star! Best news I've gotten all day! :-) Well done.
It’s in the mail ❤️
Want to thank you for your incites on aspect ratios and finding a 1:1 crop to fit my images exceptionally well.
I used to crop randomly. I didn’t know any better. When I first used Lr the padlock was in the unlocked position and I knew no better. Until it came time to make my first print. 😳. Oops! Yeah, after that I perused the different standard frame sizes and cropped to something I could work with.
But I so rarely print. Why not go back to my old unrefined ways? 😁 I’ll sometimes crop to my desired spots and then find a aspect ratio preset that’s the closest so there’s a standard I can adhere to if I ever do need to print. 🤷♀️
Thanks Alister!
How far we’ve all come since we started this crazy game ❤️ thanks Barb for the comments
@@Alister_Benn Just trying to feed the algorithm.😆 Always a pleasure.
Thanks Alister…For me having DSLR’s for 40+ years means that I virtually see in 3:2 and frame in camera to that purpose (except verticals where I tend to leave some room for cropping…as you suggest they often look too narrow). There are occasions where I crop to a standard size for printing purposes as I use a commercial printer. Also on occasions I crop to personal choice and then resize to standard ratios for printing. I do miss the ability to crop within camera but that may come upon a future upgrade. Glad that you seem to be over your covid episode.
An important topic and as you stated a personal choice. I have found that when entering a portfolio competition a standard crop is important and presents a cohesive body of work. Some of my personal work that I display as a single image may be cropped to choice. Thanks for the video
Good stuff! I’m running out of room for “Gold Stars” on my fridge!😁
Bigger fridge ❤️
I’m thinkin’😂
Sometimes I shoot wider than what I want to include knowing I can crop later to simplify the scene. If I’m presenting a group of photos I keep them in the same aspect ratio. But individually displayed photos can be whatever aspect ratio I feel is best for that particular photo. I sometimes like to display panoramas and I wouldn’t want to be limited by a certain favorite or signature aspect ratio.
I try to shoot in the field a little wider than i usually intend on showing
/ cropping the image… this allows me a little scope for cropping… especially with the 45mp R5… there is nothing worse i find in wishing you had not zoomed in so much in the field… especially if its a location you cant return to easily! The R5 gives such flexibility to crop as im never printing too large… I then make my final crop decisions at the computer… id rather be looking at the pixels to crop than wish id not zoomed in too tight! I tend to use 6x4, 4x3, 8x10, 16x9, 1x1, 2x1, 2.4x1 and 3x1 which are the standard options in affinity. I’ve occasionally taken a portrait shot and wildly cropped it to a landscape 2x1 format…. Its fine for a social media post! 😂
Interesting. I've never felt constrained previously by a 'standard' ratio when cropping. However, during the course of this year I've found myself gravitating to the use of 1:1 or 16:7 (itself not a 'standard' ratio) when creating work on specific projects. I see that as merely part of my photographic progression and reserve the right to use whatever aspect ratio appeals aesthetically at the time!
When it comes to landscape photography... I just got back to it so I can't say much. But when shooting other stuff in the past... usually I composed and shot everything with a specific crop in my mind. Usually standard crops... is easier to find frames in case I want to do a print... rather than custom size ones for some "not a standard" crop 😁. Have an amazing week.
I do my best to fit my imagined image to the native aspect ratio of my cameras 3:2 where possible. Sometimes with a little spare at the edge of frame for wiggle room and poor framing technique. At processing I nearly always reduce or rearrange the taken image to suit my mood or spot a more interesting viewpoint. Nature and creative choices don't really fall neatly into preassigned aspect ratios in my view. Sometimes yes and usually through a slave mentality of historically being self bound to your cameras aspect ratio. For me the image might be around the native 3:2 or more likely decimal alternatives 3,24 :1.76 whatever😂😂 or a totally random AR. Cheers
I have printed a few zines using images ex camera but recently I got the book "American Photographs" out of the library which completely ignores this or aspect ratio cropping - such a random sizing in this book which is a classic and a delight in my view, being old school. I am interested in trying this for printed page presentation. I see many of your commenters stick to aspect ratios for very good reasons. Greetings from New Zealand.
If "wrong crop" means not shooting for feel but shooting to fit into standards then, yes I have been cropping wrong for many many years! LOL Now, however, I am working on cropping for feel...I find it is an adventure as each crop of one image will provoke different emotions. The Snapshot feature in LightRoom is a game changer- something I use almost every time I edit now, thanks to a tip in one of your previous videos: Landscape Photography: Is this the most powerful & underused feature of Adobe Lightroom? Thanks for the video!
Thanks so much Bonnie, always great to hear from you
Thanks Alister, very interesting. I've found that where I've cropped to suit the content and image is close to a square bit not quite there it looks wrong, in that case I'll use the Aspect in Lightroom transform to fit it precisely to a square. That technique can also be used to help with the consistency issue you mentioned. Might be too much manipulation for some but it works for me.
If I'm only displaying digitally I don't care about the crop ratio. But my best work usually winds up printed so I mostly crop to my standard paper sizes - ISO, Square, 5x4 or 3x2. You can, of course, trim the paper to fit, but then you also have to trim the mounting paper/card and find a frame that suits. It's all much easier if you stick to the standard ratios.
It's more easily to print and to find appropriate frames for standard aspect ratio photos, I think
I crop for content if I'm just publishing a single image on for example FaceBook, but for a series I'll usually try to find a good crop that is OK for most/all images (often 1:1). A third option is if I know images are going to be displayed on a particular format (usually 16:9 for a screen) then I'll look for crops that use as much of the screen as possible.
Aspect ratio is typically one of the variables I wind up overlooking at the time of shooting I would enjoy a video/discussion of that topic as only you can present it. It is a powerful tool that I want to employ properly. Cropping (versus crapping) is an easy fix but I'd rather do it right going into the photo. Thxs, Bill
Haha, you noticed my little slip of the tongue 👅 no script 😂 yeah, things like that are great to talk about. I’ll do some when I’m on Iceland in a couple of weeks.
Very helpful reminder, thank you, as there is so much to consider when doing a shoot from camera settings to post processing techniques, etc. As for future topics, what I rarely if have ever seen covered are image examples that include a specific focus point highlighted. We get the ISO, aperture and shutter data for a given image, but never where in the image was the focus point, given the settings why was that chosen and what impact did that have on the resulting image. Many of us would consider that a critical teaching element to round out that technical information and its relevance to achieving the final image we seek. Often a reference is made to depth of field and hyperfocal tables, but rarely to a series of specific images highlighting the targeted focus point. Thank you for your consideration.
Thank you ever so much Alister! To be honest, it has been your suggestions on cropping that made me experimenting with this technique in the first place. As I use Sony cameras I can‘t crop in camera and have to imagine the crop when I take the picture. I learned to love the 1x1 format, different panoramas and the 5x4 (or 4x5) the most. Thanx for that. I‘m looking forward to your experiences in Scotland and Northern Spain. Kind regards, Martin
Awesome mate, I hugely appreciate your feedback and to hear I’m adding value. I’m looking forward to getting in the field as well and sharing those experiences
Ha, we Sony users have to learn to do it mentally - all a matter of planning and previsualization...seriously! 🤣Ok, Alister knows me. I'm an outlaw mostly switching off my brain when I am in the field, letting myself be overwhelmed by inspiration. But I do crop with intent in post 😉. Thank you for this one, Alister!
I have for the past 15 years cropped using custom cropping I just felt less constrained in the creative process, but ironically most of the crops fit to a standard ratio when cropped, I guess that is just my eye. but the freedom custom cropping gives you is important and opens up great possibilities in what may be an image that on first glance seems ordinary, but I agree in your observations on a body of work being of an equal ratio. I appreciate your videos Alister and look forward to them each week (:
These are some of the most valuable videos on photography for me. I find these more philosophical videos, more helpful, then the standard how to type video. Personally, I love them.
As it relates to cropping, my opinion has also changed, but in the opposite direction of yours I used to crop for content, but I found myself cropping everything to either 1x1 or 4 x 5 lately. I honestly haven’t given much thought as to why until this video. I have to think about it.
I didn’t actually say I’d “started” cropping by feel, I’m only saying I’m more open to the concept 😂😂😂
I like standards. If there's something I don't like in the corner, there's so much magic to fix it. Standards are better for prints and frames.
Thanks for that. I am having quite a time cropping with the 100s. I am glad that you have softened your earlier stance.......
With 102Mp it’s a crime not to crop 😂
I print a lot of my images and found that I normally crop to 4x5 or 1x1 and like the feeling of many of my images that way, but sometimes 16x9 or 3x2 is best for the image. I can normally make a standard ratio fit but if the image really calls for it I will unlock and adjust. It’s easier for me as I don’t yet have your critical eye for small things that detract. Your videos are some of the best around and I keep leaning and incorporating ideas from them.
Thanks so much for your thoughts, much appreciated 🙏
I try to stick with four aspect ratio 4x5-1x1-16x9 and sometimes 2.35x1. The process it's to crop freely on the picture I'm seeing than I look at the crop that fit with my free cropping. I agree that for a body of work I would think about homogeneity. Thanks Alister for this new vidéo
You are most welcome buddy ❤️ looking forward to meeting you soon
I mostly crop to 4x5 (either horizontal or vertical), but I've done everything from 1:1 to 3:1.
I’m a sucker for 4:5 ❤️
Very interesting, thanks.
What a good balanced presentation of the options 😀👍
Cheers man, thanks
I did mostly 1:1 crops before, but now I'm always using 16:9 or 16:10 crops.
It has been about a year since I decided to take photo back seriously and yes, I have been cropping to content more than to standards. I don't know if I will ever publish a book or any other serious content but every piece of information is something to consider and add to your set of mental tools at the time of capturing images, thank you for the content, I believe every one that follows you appreciates it. I certainly do.
Thanks so much for the feedback I very much appreciate it. As I say in the videos I’ve relaxed my stance on this a lot in recent months ❤️ thanks again
I shoot 3:2 and crop each image so it has the best composition. 4:3, square , 4:5 or 16:9 usually. Normally that gives me enough choice to have the best composition AND finding some standard frames, in case I want to print something.
Printing is a very good argument for more traditional aspect ratios. Thanks for your input
Hi Alister, thanks so much for sharing your opinion on this topic. I've been wondering (and asking various people) about their approach, never really got a "usable" answer except from the ones who said they crop as they like - which is often my approach as well.
I feel there are so many "standard formats" already that I could easily fit into one of them anyway (or be very close) so why even bother?
However, your advice to be consistent in a collection, gallery, display is very useeful and highly appreciated.
Thanks so much again for sharing it with all of us!
That’s true enough, I tend to do that too
Great video, Alister. And indeed thought provoking! In the past, I have tended to crop to “standard” aspect ratios (and often found the associated compromises frustrating), mainly because I didn’t realize I could unlock the settings. You just taught an old dog a new trick! Thank you.
I too am drawn to a 1:1 format, and sometimes feel I over use it. It’s just such a pleasing shape.
Now I am going to have to revisit a lot of my photos, and see if I can improve them by tweaking the aspect ratio,
I wouldn't want to be constrained by prefixed notions of cropping. I would love to use any aspect ratio that suits each image to give a true representation of the subject. Treating the subject fairly is more important.
What about the lost ratio 6 by 7? There was many medium format cameras in that format but you don’t see many photos in that format any more. ( I use it quite often just to be awkward)
Ah yes, one I always forget to mention, but love ❤️
I’ve always found your videos interesting and thought provoking although I’m not yet ready to try to take my photography to some of the extremes that you take yours to on occasion. Specifically on cropping, do you have thoughts on diptychs and triptychs which are related?
I love combining images and combining two “free form” crops into 2 or 3 parts seems like a fascinating project ❤️
This has been a very interesting video do you think it is better to crop in camera or after
Awesome, 🙏
Hi Alister
Very interesting. Someone told me when I don't use standard crops the picture will be distorted. Is this right? best regards Julia
Well you didn’t really answer the question for me. Did you notice how American the title is and how we are all slowly merging into US English? A man of your education might have used “Are we incorrectly cropping our photographs”? Sadly we have reached a stage where this possibly sounds a little grand! A funny world, but thanks for your thoughts.
No. 😊
Good for you 👍