Framing for a shot

[kabur]

I took a series of picture for a family. When I went to process / crop them for printing 5x7, 8x10, etc. I found that at times I did not leave enough side room on the shot or had the family too deep or tall to make a landscape 8x10 etc. Does anyone know where I can find information on how to set up and be sure I have enough room on the top and sides for printing.


Thanks
Keith
Nikon D40X

[dcclark]

Your D40X shoots in the 3:2 ratio, which means that you can print (without cropping) at sizes 4x6, 6x9, 8x12, etc. In particular, if you want to print 8x10, that means you will lose 2 inches along the long side. So, when composing, just keep in mind that about 1/6 of your image is going to disappear, along the long side. Another way to think of this is as follows: imagine two evenly spaced marks along the long side of your frame (as you look through your viewfinder). These fall on the thirds lines (as in, rules of thirds), so you should be familiar with the positions. Then imagine that one of these thirds is again split in two -- that's 1/6. That part of the frame is (possibly) the part you can choose to crop off when you have to crop later. Keep it empty, and you'll be ok.

Otherwise, there is no particular way to ensure that you do things right -- just leave a little space on the sides and you'll be ok.

[kabur]

Thanks David. I'll try to remember that.