Cropping and humans... any guidelines to follow?

[contributor_M]

This is a noob question, but... What is generally accepted crop when you are shooting people? Or better yet, what should one avoid cropping when shooting?

Can anyone pass any guidelines that I can apply to my future shots?

[arich]

don't crop out body parts, ie: the toes, hands, etc. If you're going to have the majority of the body in the frame then your subject shouldn't be missing half of their foot

[contributor_M]

Ah. So by the looks of these, I still need work(?)

[carrbowl]

I have never seen any good information about this..but did learn something when submitting photos for a image selection...don't make anything look like it is cut off. Now that sounds like a no brainer but you would be surprised how many times you may have cut something off!!! I still haven't found a good place to "cut off the head"!!!!

[contributor_M]

Yeah, it's very tricky when you have to cut something off. I see pictures where you see the forehead of a model, but the hair is cut off, as well as shots from the torso up, etc..

Finding it difficult on discerning what is an ok cutoff point and what isn't.

[arich]

Originally Posted by contributor_M

Yeah, it's very tricky when you have to cut something off. I see pictures where you see the forehead of a model, but the hair is cut off, as well as shots from the torso up, etc..

Finding it difficult on discerning what is an ok cutoff point and what isn't.

A generally accepted rule that I learned in one of my broadcasting classes is that cutting the forehead off is generally fine if you're framed tight, the human brain automatically fills in that there should be more head there; cutting off the chin or cutting it too close however should be avoided because you're mind freaks out when it sees that.

[brad]

In general:

1. Don't crop at or extremely close to a joint.
2. Don't crop in such a way that a body part leaves the frame, then reenters the frame, disconnected... case in point, the first pic you posted, you cropped the legs, but the feet are back in the picture, disembodied.
3. Don't crop in a face to a point where the head it clipped on more than one side of the frame... for instance, don't crop forehead and an ear at the same time.. it looks awkward.

Now.. rules were meant to be broken.. but break them with purpose. Know why you were doing it when you do it.

[venchka]

5x7 or 3x5.

[dmcantrell]

Originally Posted by brad

In general:

1. Don't crop at or extremely close to a joint.
2. Don't crop in such a way that a body part leaves the frame, then reenters the frame, disconnected... case in point, the first pic you posted, you cropped the legs, but the feet are back in the picture, disembodied.
3. Don't crop in a face to a point where the head it clipped on more than one side of the frame... for instance, don't crop forehead and an ear at the same time.. it looks awkward.

+1, these are the guidelines that I have heard as well.

[brad]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

+1, these are the guidelines that I have heard as well.

And your avatar is a really good example of point #3 .. awkward! LOL

[dmcantrell]

Originally Posted by brad

And your avatar is a really good example of point #3 .. awkward! LOL

Oh that old thing? I was going for cyclops... <shrug>

[brad]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

Oh that old thing? I was going for cyclops... <shrug>

Hehe, and I was playing. Its a good example of breaking the rules for a purpose... in this case, because its for an avatar, its cool and makes the small space you get for an avatar feel even more cramped.


Or something like that.

[contributor_M]

Originally Posted by brad

In general:

1. Don't crop at or extremely close to a joint.
2. Don't crop in such a way that a body part leaves the frame, then reenters the frame, disconnected... case in point, the first pic you posted, you cropped the legs, but the feet are back in the picture, disembodied.
3. Don't crop in a face to a point where the head it clipped on more than one side of the frame... for instance, don't crop forehead and an ear at the same time.. it looks awkward.

Now.. rules were meant to be broken.. but break them with purpose. Know why you were doing it when you do it.

Thanks Brad (and the rest of you) for the input. Notes were jotted down and will be applied next shoot.

Cheers!