Which crop?

[AdrenoJunkie]

I was wondering which crop looks better and if the tighter crop causes the image to lose its context. This is my first try at this kind of shot so all critique is welcome, especially editing. I had to do some cloning in the mirror and I didn't do a good job around her hair, so if anyone can tell me how to fix that I'd appreciate it. I would post EXIF data but Flickr seems to have changed things a bit and the EXIF data they show isn't the relevant info, and I'm just too dang tired to go look it up. So if anyone needs it just ask.

[IABoomer]

I prefer the wider crop. The tight one made me study it some to figure out if this was a mirror or just a doorway, which really alters the meaning of the background character.

I've seen a few tutorials on removing stray hairs with a layer mask, but can't think of any right off hand. I'm sure a search for "layer mask hair" will probably point you in the right direction.

[Sollie_Nevina]

I prefer the 2nd one.

In the first one, I didn't realize it was a mirror until you said so. The second crop just looks better, is easier to make the connection, and the first crop has a sort of graininess to the mirror lady that the second one doesn't.

[neubauer6]

I like the second one as well. It makes it easier to identify what is happening.

[lputman]

Originally Posted by neubauer6

I like the second one as well. It makes it easier to identify what is happening.

+1 for me...

[sk66]

I don't know what is "going on" in either crop, but I kind of prefer the first one..I feel much more involved/connected with the primary subject.... It has a moodier feel to me.

[IABoomer]

Originally Posted by sk66

I don't know what is "going on" in either crop, but I kind of prefer the first one..I feel much more involved/connected with the primary subject.... It has a moodier feel to me.

I think the image is about the woman's duality, having this wild evil nature that isn't exposed to the outside world. The wider crop makes it obvious that this is a character in a mirror, and not another person coming up behind her in a doorway or something. I get a better sense of two sides to the same human coin in the wider crop.

[AdrenoJunkie]

@ IABoomer- you nailed it on the head as to the subject of the image.@sk66- I agree with you about feeling more connected and the moody feel of the tighter crop, but also felt it lost its context like everyone else said. So thank you everyone for confirming what I was thinking. And thanks IABoomer for the lead on the tutorial.