Let’s Go Mom
My granddaughter, getting ready to depart after dinner one day. I can’t make up my mind about the cropping – the square format I did for Instagram, and it works pretty well, but I like the streaks of light and shadow on the wall which are stronger in the uncropped version. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Shot with the point and shoot on film a few weeks ago, I got away with a slow hand held shot. 
.
.
Olympus XA, f2.8/35mm lens, Fuji Neopan Acros 100 ISO, f2.8, ~1/5th
burnt embers 
Amazing shot !!!
LikeLike
that’s really great!
LikeLike
Hi Karen – she has become a very important person in our family. In the past few days she has burst into speech which is wonderfully charming.
LikeLike
I like the height, it creates the space in which this small person exists. A lovely family photo, too.
LikeLike
Thanks Andy – she is a small person and that is a good point to keep in mind – her scale is an important part of her existence and should be documented as well as portrait style shots for the details of appearance.
LikeLike
I like the context present in the uncropped image, very strong, an event about to happen. The cropped image focuses the view on your granddaughter’s face, more of a portrait.
LikeLike
Good morning Lynn. Thanks for this comment – I think you have put your finger on why I am a bit conflicted between the two versions. Wanting a portrait of my granddaughter vs the picture of a little kid in a bike seat. I think the little kid version wins out but for me the crop has some interest – partly because in it my granddaughter has a look about her of one of her mother’s cousins, something that is not usually seen.
LikeLike
Nice to have it both ways, yes?
LikeLike
Yup – the zoom tool works for that too!
LikeLike
This is a really cute picture. I think I prefer the uncropped version. I think a little more space above makes for a more balanced and pleasing composition somehow and we’ve room to really enjoy the picture.
LikeLike
Hi Adrian. Thanks for the comment. I struggled a bit with the composition – it is shot out of a doorway so the framing was set for me. The space above was all I had to work with.
LikeLike
I prefer the uncropped version; for the same reason you mentioned with the streaks of light and shadow being visible on the wall, and also because for me personally in the cropped version the frame seems too crowded.
LikeLike
Thanks Kiki. I agree the uncropped one lets the light in somehow.
LikeLike