NOOB question regarding "keepers" vs cropping

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Originally Posted by Donald

My aim with 1:1 images, for example, is that I will only have to crop on one of the four sides, the composition being 'right' on the other three sides.

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If I take your comment literally, you would have to compose the image so the desired scene is on the far right, far left, top or bottom of the frame. Considering the softness that some lenses produce in the corners, wouldn't it be better to compose the image so the desired scene is in the middle of the frame? That would require you to crop two sides rather than one bit it would be well worth it.

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Originally Posted by Mike Buckley

If I take your comment literally, you would have to compose the image so the desired scene is on the far right, far left, top or bottom of the frame. Considering the softness that some lenses produce in the corners, wouldn't it be better to compose the image so the desired scene is in the middle of the frame? That would require you to crop two sides rather than one bit it would be well worth it.

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Mike - You identify the very issue that I read about when I started to do this sort of thing. I read an article that said always compose around the centre. But, to be honest, I've never noticed the problem. I suppose if I was printing all my 1:1 stuff at a fairly large size and if I did one as you suggest and compared them, there might be some apparent difference. Maybe I'm just lucky in terms of the lenses I have, but, up until now, the advantages I feel in terms of assisting the process of composition, outweigh any obvious deterioration in image quality.

But the point you make is very valid and anyone thinking about following my pathway, should consider that issue.

It's always preferable to get it right in camera but cropping has been a part of photography since film replaced glass plates. It's just part of the process and one of the little things you shouldn't worry about in general. Something too small in the frame that needs to be enlarged to a point of distortion is not cropping problem but rather the original composition.

In regards to marketable photos it would depend on who your intended audience is. For example, shots for a magazine often require space on the top or sides for text. On the other hand one of my own regular considerations is the mat which in many cases is very important to the overall presentation.

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Originally Posted by Mike Buckley

Considering the softness that some lenses produce in the corners, wouldn't it be better to compose the image so the desired scene is in the middle of the frame?

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Hi Mike,

In theory.

In practice though, the lens would have to be pretty bad to make any "real world" difference; especially in an image destined to be down-sampled for internet display or only printed small to medium. Correct sharpening will have a far bigger effect.

That makes sense, Colin. It also explains why Donald hasn't seen any degradation when using only one end of the frame. Unfortunately, there are a lot of theories constantly mentioned about photography that have little practical application, as we recently discussed in another thread. This is surely one of them.

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Originally Posted by Mike Buckley

That makes sense, Colin. It also explains why Donald hasn't seen any degradation when using only one end of the frame. Unfortunately, there are a lot of theories constantly mentioned about photography that have little practical application, as we recently discussed in another thread. This is surely one of them.

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For sure.

I think the lab rats need to stop trying to save the pixels and start working on saving their images (if they ever make it into the real world of photography that is!). :)

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Originally Posted by Colin Southern

For sure.

I think the lab rats need to stop trying to save the pixels and start working on saving their images (if they ever make it into the real world of photography that is!). :)

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Unfortunately, they are paid for their pixel peeping, not for saving their images... They are supposed to show what they see, up to us users to interpret their results in terms of what we want to do/expect to do with the equipment.

Perhaps the users should be educated about what the numbers mean in practice, as in some cases the test results do have some real life significance.

Regards,

Remco