When the first television programs were broadcast, people were shown from head to toe.  Broadcasters were concerned that viewers would not understand if people were cut off.  Well, people figured out that there were arms and legs attached to the disembodied head on the screen.  There were no riots.  Can you imagine if that had not changed?  No closeups to show expression or cutaways to show fingers or toes tapping. 

Now with all the aspect ratios and legacy shows originally shot in 4x3 (typically older tv shows) now cropped to fit our cool wide screens, cropping becomes interesting.  That explains why something or someone important to the scene is partially or totally off screen now. Imagine being a director carefully composing a shot and now having it mangled because of all new screen aspect ratios.

The same problem happens in still photography.  Cameras force the original crop.  A full frame digital camera (like the Nikon I use) has an aspect ratio (and physical horizontal and vertical dimensions) similar to 35mm film, something that has been around awhile…3:2 derived from the actual size of  the film  (36mm X 24mm).  But most standard print sizes such as 4X5, 8X10, 11X14, 16X20 cannot accommodate the entire camera frame.  It forces someone, usually the photographer, to crop the image in production. 

So some of those expensive pixels are thrown away during the production process if you are trying to print to standard sizes (so you can take advantage of standard sized mattes and frames).

If you are trying to crop in your camera to maximize the image, get used to tossing the sides of your horizontal image (top and bottom of your vertical).  Or print custom sizes.  Some digital paper suppliers have met this need by offering new sizes.  I used to use 17X22 paper but was forced to crop my images.  Now 17X25 paper is available…no cropping required. If you are going to crop, crop like you mean it.  Don’t be afraid to crop. Don’t just accidentally lose a hand or a foot or the top of someone’s head or the top of a building.  Go for it, really crop in and get to your subject…subtlety not required.   Whether in camera or in post processing. Focus your viewer’s attention on the subject. Reframe if needed to take advantage of the rules of composition (rule of thirds, leading lines, light/dark patterns).

There’s a good chance  you shot the photo with your subject smack in the middle of the frame, your autofocus or focusing aids are likely concentrated there.  Or sometimes when following fast moving objects, you  cannot create the perfect composition in camera.  You can move the subject in cropping for a more pleasing composition.  Give moving objects space to move into, create drama with tight cropping to focus your viewer.  You know what you want to say…don’t whisper (unless the subtle whisper is what you are going for).

Thanks for stopping by.