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Cropping – in camera or in the computer?
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I also haven’t voted in this,
I’d be with Pete in the ‘both ‘box-For anyone doing Transformations, you have to frame in camera,
knowing that you’ll be discarding pixels;
deciding which pixels to keep will guide your framing in camera.So, both.
j
I voted for “crop in computer”, simply because most things do require some level of cropping afterwards. I try to get the framing as close as possible though.
I said the same – “in computer”, because I notice that no matter how hard I aim to get it right at-click-time there’s still a crop that’s better than what I saw at the time.
There’s one problem with this question and that is it doesn’t take into account the different aspect ratios of film, APS-C sized sensors and print sizes. For example, if you’re shooting on an APS-C sized sensor and then want to produce a 10″x8″ print you have a number of choices – (i) crop the image on the computer to match the 10″x8″ aspect ratio (ii) print the image to fit on 10″x8″ paper resulting in two white borders or (iii) print the image as is on 12″x8″ paper and leave it as it is or cut it to 10″x8″ (although that’s really no different to cropping it on the computer). Which you ultimately choose depends on the final use of the image.
I find this dicsussion very interesting. I accept the views of both sides. I think Ciaran is right, almost every shot needs some cropping, even if it’s only rotation. That’s why I have no option for “both”, we may well have ended up with no-one voting for in-camera or in-computer.
I come from a 35mm film discipline, the proportions of its 3:2 ratio is one of the most pleasing shapes to me and I hate 10×8 proportions (really,really hate!!). I still try to shoot a 3:2 format regardless of what digital camera I have (many compacts will allow a 3:2 format somewhere in the menu). Also as photographers (be that amateur, semi-pro or pro) I think it is important that we make our framing decisions in-camera at the time of shooting. I believe you must not only be aware of the subject in the frame but also the space around it, that way you can make decisions before it’s too late, when the subject is gone.
Thorsten is of course correct when he points out that your shots may be only printed say in 10×8 format (weddings for instance), but I suppose that’s one of the differences between commercial and creative photography. I don’t do a huge amount of commercial work so have great choice in the format of the final image.
I suppose I should really ask ‘What’s your preference?”, maybe that would make things easier. Either way the responses to the Poll show a clear lead to “in-camera” with a rough range of 75/25 to 65/35 and I’m pleased to see that. It seems that most people crop if they must, but try to get the shot at the time.
digitalbeginner wrote:
many compacts will allow a 3:2 format somewhere in the menu
Surely this only restricts the picture to only using part of the sensor. You’d be better off shotting is norma, and cropping afterwards…
Tim
earthairfire wrote:
digitalbeginner wrote:
many compacts will allow a 3:2 format somewhere in the menu
Surely this only restricts the picture to only using part of the sensor. You’d be better off shotting as normal, and cropping afterwards…
Tim
This goes to the heart of the poll. Do you make the shot in the camera or in the computer.
I just noticed that at the time of this post that 287 views had been clocked up on this thread. I know some of these are non-members and some maybe multiple viewings from registered members.
Can I just encourage everyone who has a look in here to vote. it’s completely confidentional, we won’t be sending the heavies around (mainly because we don’t know where you live :) ) and your participation, either voting or commenting (or both) on either side is very much welcomed.
Dave
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