Crop Critique

jlo24141 · Jan 5, 2013

I printed this one out as a poster today

This is my friend Sam wearing a "Johnny Love Vodka" shirt. My name just so happens to be Johnny Love, too!

The original picture cut her hands off, but I tried to crop it in to below the elbow, as I see that's the best recommendation. Is the crop where it should be here? I guess I should have kept "Vodka" or cloned it out. And do you think I cut out too many highlights?

I also see that the original was overexposed and noisy. I've read up on how to fix those, so my next shoot should be a lot more dialed in.

Edit and original:

snowbear · Jan 5, 2013

I'd switch to portrait mode, as well - there is a lot of empty space around her.

jlo24141 · Jan 5, 2013

That's the other thing I'm going to change for my next shoot. I tried to crop it as a portrait for 4x6 but hated how cramped she became.

She signed it in silver sharpie in the extra space

Granddad · Jan 6, 2013

I guess you didn't have any lights? I see you shot at ISO 6400 with a shutter speed of 1/30 and F5. It came out very grainy. Given the shutter speed you did very well to get the focus as well as you did. You have a lovely model with hair to die for and you made a good attempt to emphasise the hair. If you'd used one or two off camera flashes you could have brought the ISO down to 200 or 400 and you should be aiming for a shutter speed of 125 or faster. Again, shoot in portrait! (.... Is this ME giving advice? :lmao

These are all mistakes I've made and been pulled up on.

The crop still looks awkward, I don't think you'll be able to keep the logo AND crop this to be a decent photo

Such a shame, you'll have to shoot it again... and with a model like this young lady that will be SUCH a chore!

Wait for some more advice from those technically more proficient than I am.

The_Traveler · Jan 6, 2013

She is leaning over about 12 degrees and 4 x 6 isn't the only crop ratio allowed

snowbear · Jan 6, 2013

I like this ^ one, much more.

frommrstomommy · Jan 6, 2013

Were you limited to 4x6 ratio for your poster print size?

jlo24141 · Jan 6, 2013

Thanks Granddad. A lot of them came out grainy and soft focused. I did bump up my lighting- went higher wattage and more of them, and also have an external flash now. I will have to play around with the lights when she comes back over this week for another shoot.

And yes, I was constrained to a 4x6... but i didn't even think to rotate her back 12 degrees

Vautrin · Jan 6, 2013

So when you take a shoot of a model, it looks better if the shot is tightly cropped...

This doesn't mean you need to go portrait (although that'll help). You can do 1x1, 4x5 or any number of other crop ratios

Basically you just want to eliminate all the extra blank space.

Try the 1x1 crop. I find it looks really good with models..

jlo24141 · Jan 6, 2013

Alright Vautrin, I will give that a try! Thank you for the tips!

jlo24141 · Jan 6, 2013

So here's what I am looking at for lighting- a Speedlite tt560 and a few 200W equivalent daylight CFLs, with some shoot-thru umbrellas. I just ordered 2 43 inch reflected diffusion umbrellas. I am not able to use the flash unless it's on the hotshoe. I don't have a light meter or any way other than moving the lights to get the right f stops.

How many watts or bulbs do you think I will need to bring my ISO to 400 or less, and bring up my shutter speed to 125?