What's in a Crop

Thank you all for commenting on my last post. Next time I feature a picture, especially on Black & White Wednesday, I will include my edits as to how I ended up with the finished product.

So, one of the comments I recieved often yesterday was 'great crop'. What exactlly is in a crop? What makes one picture cropped better than the next? Well, I'd like to start by introducing the "Rule of Thirds". Have you heard about it? My photography teacher at summer camp (yes Amie...Music & Arts Week) taught us the Rule of Thirds and it has stayed with me. By the way, I use Picnik for editing. Its free, so feel free to play along and edit your pictures too! The crop tool on Picnik has the Rule of Thirds grid already on it (amazing!).

This is a very brief introduction to the Rule of Thirds. I will go in-depth into how it effects how I take pictures, but I just wanted to introduce it to show you how I crop pictures. For the Rule of Thirds, you imagine this grid on your photograph:

The most basic photographer will center their subject in the middle square. To advance your photography, you are taught to try to place your subject off-center, often where the green dots are above. I know you're thinking, well that's great, but all the photos I have already taken center the subject in the middle.  Well, me too.  Sure I've known about this rule for like 10 years, but that doesn't mean I always follow it.  So, fix it with a crop!

Here is my original picture:

Isn't she so cute holding that soccer ball that's bigger than her head?  Ok, Awwwww. 

Here is the crop you might be tempted to do first:

I cropped right around her so that we can see her better.  It is still a super cute photo, but it is a bit bland.

Here is a crop that uses the Rule of Thirds:

I cropped out a little bit of the top and bottom to bring your eye more onto Leah.  I also cropped out the bit of pink something that was on the right.  I left in the wooden logs as a natural line.  In this picture, Leah seems like she is getting ready to run right at you.  What do you think?

My Final Version:

decreased exposure -10

increased contrast +6

sharpened to 5

Under Effects:

Boost 10%

Vignette size 20, 40%

Rounded Edges Frame 44

Update 4/9/10:  added to Amy's Round Robin!!!!!