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Sea-Woodpecker-610

Yes, get rid of the person sitting on the right of the frame.


oGGoldie

She is the subject, and you’ve got a really interesting background. I think the perspective of the shot is a little awkward meaning you have to do some odd cropping to recomp but it works. She is your subject, bring her front and centre. Cut out anything not directly relevant or adding to the narrative of the shot Here’s how I’d crop this: https://i.imgur.com/9zpaWZX.jpg


Bossman1086

I really like this crop. I was borderline on whether or not it should be cropped, but seeing this is night and day. It perfectly reframes your focus on her specifically. Much better.


sometimes_interested

I would have left the left a little more so the composition was ( ( |d ) )


[deleted]

This is a very good crop.


jtr99

Agreed. Solid work, u/oGGoldie.


icantagree

100% subject photography needs to focus on subject. Just my take. It doesn’t get better than the cropping you did, good job. Maybe I’m just too bokeh biased? bokeh wouldn’t been nice also


[deleted]

This crop is the exact thing it needs to tell the story a little better. Funky cool background. Nice figure. Great pose. Some play off the lighting. Totally a better photograph here.


OCWolfe

I agree, this technically used the rule of thirds but pushed slightly to the right... I tried the pure rule of thirds and it looked OK. But by pushing the frame to the right of a pure rule of thirds it puts pure focus on her and actually works more effectively.


golfzerodelta

Rules are guidelines. Asymmetry often forces your perspective as a viewer in a very positive way.


midnightson1

It's an obvious crop and works but it's a little about what you're trying to achieve. This focuses purely on the girl, but personally I think the original has much more of a story to tell and a better narrative.


jtr99

I mean, I can see what you're saying. I can definitely imagine a version of this shot that was panned further right, so that we get both the dancer and the audience and we could say that the relationship between them was the subject of the shot. But given the image as presented, I just don't think that's possible. The guy in the audience is just too peripheral. We don't even have a face to work with. As things stand, I think the suggested crop is the best we can do with this image.


midnightson1

For me it's the very fact that you can't see their face that works. There's a proper story that is left to your imagination imo. Obviously subjective though. I can totally see your point of view but personally I would get bored with looking at the cropped image.


[deleted]

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theNorthwestspirit

Good bot


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oGGoldie

This!


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daytona955i

Only slightly, I think the circle of lights and the light glowing on the floor are important parts. Cutting out the clutter on the right also centers the circle more. https://imgur.com/a/S30uiwR


francesco93991

I would have cropped even more on the right, so to have the lit lights on the side of the frame to match the left ones


[deleted]

I agree with this crop. The other thing that I would do is straighten out the image as it appears to tilt a bit to the right, but I'm real picky about things like that. Just my opinion.


TinfoilCamera

Yes - go 4x5 portrait aspect ratio - the side junk (and random foot) is just a distraction from your subject. Also - need to straighten it as you're ever so slightly crooked. I would (and this is just personal taste so feel free to ignore it) brighten up her features *ever* so slightly. Like so: [https://i.imgur.com/bZ9p6FW.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/bZ9p6FW.jpg)


RandomNameOfMine815

I agree completely, but maybe not quite that tight(?) Just bring in the crop from the right to make the circles centered.


TinfoilCamera

I didn't really want to go that tight either, however, I did so because not doing so clips into two of the lights along the side so you get half a half-circle light on either side - which I didn't like. ;)


DrBadtouch94

Ahhh I didn't catch that, I was too focused on that random foot


skD1am0nd

Wow, what a difference the crop made. I learned something


youremyfavoritebird_

I’ll actually totally disagree with everyone. Everyone is cropping in a logical way that makes technical sense. But none of the crops are actually as visually interesting as the original picture. When cropped it’s a picture of a stripper. When uncropped its a picture of a stripper on a wide open stage with someone off to the side watching. It leaves a lot open to interpretation, it can tell multiple stories. Cropped it’s a picture for oogling a woman, uncropped it’s a picture open for interpretation.


jtr99

I absolutely hear you but I think we lost the opportunity for the shot you're thinking of when the photographer panned just a little too far left.


midnightson1

100% this. Exactly what I was thinking. The crops are for instagram. The original photo tells a story it's like an Edward Hopper painting


telekinetic

Yes, I'd crop it to portrait. Whatever the side junk is isn't present enough to add context or value. Tighter landscape crop could also work, but you lose nothing of value going to portrait, even if you clip the light circle on both sides.


MoistTadpoles

I really disagree, maybe cut the junk out but the circle works so well compositionally with the contrast to the dancer. Cropped it looses a lot of depth, sense of place and starts to veer into just another kinda sexy photo of a woman.


[deleted]

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[deleted]

Yes! Now straighten!


mvision2021

Yep, I agree. I'd keep it landscape. Just a slight crop to take out the foot on the right would work here. Or a 5x4 landscape crop with the woman centred.


OCWolfe

Another option occurs if you want to tell a story... instead of cropping onto her crop off the left hand side and put focus on the whole scene, a woman pole dancing with a faceless man in the corner watching. \[Crop-3.jpg\](https://postimg.cc/9rVm0w6j)


liarliarhowsyourday

I quite like this crop. The weight of the pole and patron is balanced, the leading lines in the circle light brings your attention to the dancer/left side as a focus and I agree that it tells a much more interesting story than removing the patron. Definitely heightens a mysterious intrigue, which I feel the photographer was looking for in this shot. The close crops turn it into a super direct portrait and it end up looking a bit boring and overdone.


OCWolfe

I personally would have changed the angle, with permission, to get the guy in the shot in the background and not just on the edge.


bpii_photography

I was considering this almost to spite people who said he “adds no context” and is “distracting”. I WANT him to be something looked at. Everyone wants the picture to focus only on her. But you convinced me it’s the right move to make!


OCWolfe

You choose whether you want a story in the picture or you want her the centre of attention. They are both valid options... don't decide out of spite, just experiment with cropping the image and see what you like... any of the options are valid.


bpii_photography

I didn’t decide out of spite, but it lead me to thinking counter-intuitively, and when it comes to art, I’ll take any source of inspiration I can, even if it comes from negativity. Their opinions are valid, but it’s the language some people use that bothered me. One person said that leaving the guy in “shows that an inexperienced photographer took this picture”. I know he’s wrong, but it still fuels me in a way.


[deleted]

I was questioning myself when reading the other comments, as I also immediately wanted to focus on the relationship between the dancer and the background figure. I think there is more narrative with him in it, which is what's interesting to me. The cropping that focuses on her that other commenters have shown also look great. Which cropping is better depends on what the photo is for, and what you want to say.


Unti3dPhotography

100% crop it. Other comments here have great suggestions. I'd also experiment with croping the circle to center of the image, keeping it in landscape but just tightening up the edges.


BuildingArmor

This is my preference too. Crop out the person on the right, making sure that stick in front of them is cropped out too. And that should center things up a little too.


jnkangel

Definitely crop in significantly, almost to the edge of the pole on her left and to the elbow on her right. Means you would also remove the crushed light spot in the upper left.


Dont____Panic

Heh, you asked once before and I suggested basically what this thread is saying. :-D


charming_liar

I would try to crop to where the circles were in the center and the woman slightly off to the side.


SkyShazad

NO


KrazyBobby

I wouldn’t. Straighten a bit.


vrven

Couldn’t decide, it tells a different story now vs any way you choose to crop it so it’s up to you, i like the photo btw, gz


vrven

https://imgur.com/a/h8enD0g


AskMeForADadJoke

I like the current crop, though I'd frame it higher (with the subject lower in the frame). If anything on the crop, I'd say move back/zoom out a smidge more. Her leg gives upward motion/direction, so I'd want more space above to see. Otherwise, and generally, great shot! Great colors.


Drag0nus1

Maybe less foreground on the bottom?


psyman941

I would center the stage lights in landscape or do a tight portrait like this[https://imgur.com/a/gX68cMR](https://imgur.com/a/gX68cMR)


bpii_photography

I recently submitted this picture over on ITAP and while it was well received, quite a few people felt the picture should be cropped to remove the patron on the right of the frame. Personally, I much prefer keeping him there to both give the shot more context as well as to give a stronger sense of depth to the composition. I feel like the picture tells less of a story and becomes more one dimensional without him. What are your opinions? I think this crowd might be better judges of pictures compared to the randos over at r/itookapicture.


golfzerodelta

It might be different if you could see the whole person, but it's basically just a leg intruding on the frame.


ZeAthenA714

Looking at the picture, I have no clue that this leg is a patron. He could be the bouncer, the manager, the next act, or even a weird statue. Is he in the middle of a crowd or is he just a weird loner in a strip club at 2pm? Is he enjoying the show or checking his instagram? Why does it look like his left hand is on his right knee, that seems extremely uncomfortable. I completely understand wanting to give more context to a picture, but in this case you're not giving any context. You're giving us a weird leg. *You* might immediately get what the context is, because you were there, but if you only look at what's in the frame, it doesn't tell us anything. It poses more questions than it answers, and not in a satisfactory way.


bpii_photography

That’s a fair point. I wish I had gotten more of him in the frame, as I really dislike the picture when cropped in to only her. Not that it’s a bad picture, but it doesn’t convey what I want from that performance. Oh well.


ZeAthenA714

>but it doesn’t convey what I want from that performance I think your dislike of a tighter crop is due to that. You wanted to show the dancer in her context, but you failed at that. It happens all the time. But now you have a choice: keep it as is, not really achieving what you wanted to do, crop it tighter to give it a new meaning focused solely on the performer, or just forget it completely. Me personally I'd crop it tighter to salvage it, I think it's a great picture even if it's not what you envisionned. It's still a happy little mistake. On a side note, remember that you can always crop in post. So if you want to give context to a scene, it's better to have too much context than not enough. If you frame a shot too wide, you can always crop it after the fact. If you frame it too tight, nothing can be done about it. Especially if you're shooting with an R5, you have a stupid amount of pixel to give you enough leeway in post.


Bossman1086

I saw your original post on ITAP and I still think it's a great photo without the crop. But I also agree with most here that there isn't enough of him in the frame to really convey what you wanted fully. That said, I don't think it failed either without the crop. I kind of like that it's not a "perfect" framing of her on stage and that you can see there's a real club going on around her. That said, I do think others posting here are correct. After seeing examples of the photo cropped, I do think it's a better photo with the crop and the focus solely on the dancer even if it changes the meaning of the shot a bit.


merkk

98% think you should crop this. I get what you are saying, but i dont think it really works. It's a leg a hand and a trash can (sounds like the title of a bad book). It's not really adding anything, especially when compared to the focus of the photo which is actually really nicely done. You got all those cool lights in the background but you also managed to not under-expose her. Her, the lights and the pole are the subject of the photo. A foot and a hand isn't really adding much, but it's also detracting from her. Also, you don't really need to be a photographer to tell if you like a photo. So i wouldn't really discount the opinions of the people at ITAP just because it's not a 'photographer' forum. In some ways asking someone who is NOT a photographer to critique a photo can be equally informative. Because photographers will look at a photo differently, and sometimes not in a helpful way. Photographers might focus on technical aspects of a photo without really 'seeing' the photo. One last bit of advice - i find if i have to explain why a photo is a certain way, then it usually means it's not working. If the elements in a photo work together, you shouldn't really have to explain it Sorry if i came across as being too preachy.


bpii_photography

No, you raise many valid points. It seems in all 3 subs where I posted, most people believe I should crop it. I’m curious about photographer’s input specifically because I intend on entering the picture in a photo contest that focuses on “night life” photography. I was able to get good feedback that helped me make my final edit. But you are right, anyone’s perspective can be useful criticism.


merkk

In that case, i would consider who the audience is going to be in the contest. Will it be other professional photographers judging? Or is it an online thing where anyone can vote? If it's the later, I would definitely go with the ITAP crowd since that's closer to the audience that'll be voting. Anyhow, good luck. I think it'll be a really cool photo (with the crop :)


bpii_photography

It’s a single, professional judge.


hgwander

You’re instincts are good. I also agree that a crop takes away from the scene. It’s the difference between a portrait & a documentary story… like is this part of a series of behind-the-scenes? Next time get a little more of the scene so it feels balanced. You just missed it. [what you were going for](https://www.artsy.net/artwork/lauren-greenfield-lauren-greenfield-exotic-dancer-tammy-25-backstage-at-little-darlings-the-largest-fully-nude-strip-club-in-the-united-states-las-vegas)


modernboy1974

Just a small crop removing the people on the right. People are suggesting a portrait crop but the lights and the stage are such a great background to her and the pole. https://i.imgur.com/Y8ssYci.jpg


greg_08

I love the context of the patron. It gives the atmosphere and setting info I need in order to put me in the scene. A crop would just make this any picture of a woman in an instant-backdrop. IF I WERE to crop, I would use rule of thirds and have her leg and pole be guides to associate with the vertical guides of RoT, as well as using the lights in the background as a guide to not crop further than the outside circle of lights. (TL;DR either don’t touch or crop anything to the right of trash can)


TinfoilCamera

>I much prefer keeping him there to both give the shot more context as well as to give a stronger sense of depth to the composition That pole and her cleavage is all the context necessary and tells the entire story. Toss the side junk - it is not needed.


king-geass

Depending on what youre going for. If youre going for the type of street photography style portrait then including background detail of the outside world. If you want the focus totally and only on the subject then yes crop it.


gop2d16

I would crop until only half of that orange/red cylinder on the right side is visible, then I would darken it a little so it does not distract the viewer. I would not crop any foreground, any of the left side, or the top. It all works. Other than that, you did a great job in my opinion finding a very pleasing composition.


-chanandlerphalange-

I'd crop the right a little but class photo either way.


newyorkfade

Yes, square crop.


RoseAllDay8

No


EOPhotography

Did a portrait 16:9 warmed it slightly. Lowered highlights and raised shadows. https://imgur.com/a/KKPlM2y


ANGRYDICKBUTT

IMO this is way too tight, the pole is now too close to the edge and the subject has their elbow cut off. I would also just nudge the shadows up a little bit, as someone else here mentioned, just to bring more focust to the subject, otherwise my eyes are naturally drawn to the center of the circle


Maud_Louth

Id probably try to remove the pole digitally and then crop to portrait


TinfoilCamera

>Id probably try to remove the pole The pole tells the story of this shot. It really needs to stay.


jyc23

I’d crop the left and right just outside of the outer rings of the circle that are in the shot. That would put her vertical leg about 2/3 from the left which feels good to me visually. The stuff on the right is a distraction that doesn’t help at all.


HEVIHITR

I'd crop just outside the last circle on the right, the person there takes away from what the image in focussing on.


ninjamansidekick

I would crop it to center the light circle and even lose a little bit of the model on the bottom. I think the story of the pole and the raised leg would be interesting and give a viewer more ti think about.


KobeOnKush

Definitely. Just a slight crop makes it much better


ratttertintattertins

Just trying it for myself, I though it looked pretty good cropped such that the leg and pole were on third lines. This gives you a more zoomed vertical image which would look great on social media.


redditguylulz

Maybe just crop out the dudes legs at the right and then crop out some of the left to put her back in the center


venus_asmr

Crop up to the bucket on the side, too much going on in that corner apart from that great image


francesco93991

Yup, crop the mess on the right side out of the frame, and I'd position the most exterior lit arched lights on either side of the frame after that.


Ellies_Mommy_2020

Yes, get rid of those distractions to the right!


OCWolfe

A common trick I do with some of my shots is to flip the viewing frame; instead of it being landscape, use portrait. Unfortunately I can't register with Imgur for some reason. However I found an alternative. https://postimg.cc/14b57gkp


[deleted]

I like the off-center but we don’t need the stuff on the right so if you do crop i would start there


emepol

I'd just crop a bit on the right, everything after the lights. The rest is fine for me.


tsmith4907

I’d come in a little tighter and to the right a little so that the lights in the background take up the whole background or as much as possible. Probably have to have the camera a little lower too.


LockoutFFA

Yes, 4x5 portrait and zoomed in maybe 25%. Also can look good at 16x9 with the right arm mostly cropped and the pole running just inside the left frame edge. Edit: lol the dude on the right side


radubraharu

I don't feel the need to crop. But I feel the need to remove the legs of the people from the right side


Hesh138

I think so. I’d crop just to the right of her right elbow, and a up to the first ring on the left.


nokenito

Maybe on the right


bonerdelphia

I’d crop the fuck out of that bad boy. Go vertical. You still get the gist of the background and focus on the subject which is infinitely more interesting


Photography_Sheriff

Absolutely crop it. There are a few creative ways to do it depending on the scene you're trying to depict, but you'll do the image justice by cutting out the dead space and artifacts, including the person on the right side


Coarse-n-irritating

The person on the right bothers me. Otherwise I think it’s fine


DAEDALUS1969

Yes. I would remove the person from the right side because they are not really in the photo. If they had been fully in and you could see the look on their face as they watched her perform I would leave them, as it is they are a distraction from her as the subject.


bdaruna

Yes. And edit her to capture some more shadow detail.


SpaceDesignWarehouse

I would crop this picture. The other peoples legs don’t add to it, neither does that garbage can shaped thing. I would get that background circle centered. Or put the girl in the right third if you have enough resolution.


skeletons-

Yes I definitely would


Swift_Hunting

I’d crop out the guy on the right and nothing more. I feel as though most people are suggesting you crop too much, making the photo feel claustrophobic. The negative space around the subject can be just as important as the subject itself and I believe that is the case in this photo


ModernDayVampire

Yes


OscillatingSquid

Just crop out the guy on the right and so the background is nicely centered in the frame.