What’s Your Preference?

milosh · #1 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 04:28 AM

Hey everyone,

simple and quick question, which of these crops do you like better, and if possible, give me a reason why. I'm having trouble deciding.

I feel that the first crop (c1, the wider one) has many unnecessary elements in the sides and on the top, hence the second crop.. But I also feel that because the c1 has more foreground elements, it gives a deeper perspective to the image..

Thanks

Photologyst · #2 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 05:02 AM

#1. It gives the photo more depth and life.

Dirt_Bike_Ryda · #3 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photologyst

#1. It gives the photo more depth and life.

what [s]he said.

SusanH1970 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 09:08 PM

I'm going to go against the grain here and say #2. The second tree in the first one is cropped off awkwardly; also in the second one I think the lines lead the eyes much better.

Krusty79 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 10:15 PM

I prefer the first because it leads my eye deeper into the image, into the area with the lights. On the second one, my eye tends to reach the bench and stop there. So, #1 is more engaging for me. I think it helps that the bench is not centered in #1.

NgaiHill · #6 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 11:16 PM

I like #2, I feel more a part of the scene with being closer to the bench and it feels less cluttered than #1.

sk66 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2010, 12:25 AM

The crop of #2 makes the bench "the subject" (not a great one). In the first there is no "subject", it's just a scene.
I prefer the overall "feel" of the first, but there is nothing anchoring the image.

SusanH1970 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-30-2010, 01:31 AM

I've come back to look again. I still prefer #2, and I figured out why, more so than #1. Usually the eye is drawn to the lightest/brightest parts of a photo...in this case, the lights, and the "horizon" of the crossing walkway. In #2, they're in the upper third of the photo; in the first, they're in the center, more or less. I'm not always a stickler for the ROT, but I think in this case, after some thought, that's why I'm drawn to it. In #2, the sidewalk leads the eye diagonally into the top third of the frame...my eyes see more of the photo and sort of dance across it....whereas in #1, my eyes go to the center and stay there.

Ha, maybe I'm overanalyzing. I do that.

milosh · #9 (**permalink**) 10-30-2010, 05:18 PM

Wow, what a discussion! No wonder I'm having trouble deciding myself.

I like the second one. The first one does seem "deeper", but the second makes me feel like a part of the scene, it's more engaging (thanks for the word Krusty), whereas in the first one I feel like just a distant observer. I don't find the bench to be an "eye grabber".

Thanks for your effort and sorry if my sentences are a bit confusing, I had a nap recently.

I'll let it boil (in my head) 'till tomorrow, that way I'll see it more clearly.