Cropping and Extending

Cropping an image has already been covered in other exercises but to recap:

Cropping can be used to;

• Remove unwanted edge detail
• Restore balance
• Improve composition
• Change aspect ration or format
• Change context/meaning of image 

This last one ,particulary in journalism is often perceived as a legitimate tool. However how it is perceived by the intended audience is often in a negative way e.g  Reuters use of cropping being accused of bias

I decided to investigate extending the image by compiling a series of images to create a panorama.

Following on from the previous exercise I used the two formats to compile the images.First using landscape images , once aligned they need to be quite heavily cropped and some details  are lost as the image is long and narrow.

When the images for the panorama are taken in the vertical or portrait format the resulting panorama is wider and easier to align with less need to crop the final image and less detail is lost.

In conclusion cropping can be use to "repair" an image but also can be used to create a new context or composition . Extending the image is also useful to create a larger format to ensure the subject is fully recorded when it far exceed the available mediums proportions. e.g. Landscapes or interiors

Vertical and Horizontal Frames

This exercise is to encourage the use of a portrait(vertical) frame vs. a horizontal (landscape) frame which given the shape of the standard SLR viewfinder is the most "natural" orienation to use.

To do this the requirement was to take 20 images each with a vertical and horizontal shot. Below is a slide show of the 20 examples I have taken.

Also besides the obvious use of the vertical orientation for tall objects and standing people I also have considered the following when choosing the subjects above;

• The subject is already vertical
• Height needs defining
• Motion of the subject is vertical
• Defining direction of subject gaze - up or down
• Directing the viewers gaze within the image
• In portraits it can be used to retain tighter control of basic composition rules e.g. the rule of thirds
• Isolate a feature of the subject
• Defining the position/boundary of an object within it's containing space.

Positioning the Horizon

Horizon - This exercise is to explore different positions of the horizon and and how they affect an image.

Placing the horizon line at the top of the image purely draws attention to fore ground and near distance subjects. It heavily depends on foreground interest to give impact. I also find it contains the image within a defined boundary.

Fitting the Frame to the Subject

The object of this exercise is to see how you can use the viewfinder to frame a subject.



The camera I used for this exercise has a 98% coverage viewfinder which I found interesting to see how it would change what I saw against what was produced.

Also the advise about tilting the camera missed out some another pertinent fact, some times you need to tilt yourself to get the shot. Even simply moving sideways changes what is in the viewfinder and what can be included in the image as it unfolds before you. Or in my case lying down and tilting me and the camera!

First image is just taken, without any concious effort, just a snapshot of the object as you first see it.