Framing when Shooting

[deeky]

When shooting, I tend to frame and compose the picture in the viewfinder as I want the finished image to look. This becomes an issue when I go through pp and want to set the print aspect ratio. My viewfinder has a wider view than standard print ratios, so I can't quite get it to look like I want when I go to print.

When you are shooting, how tight do you shoot? How much room around the edges do you leave for later cropping?

 

[rexbobcat]

I usually print "digital" sizes, because the standard sizes are stupid. And I frame accordingly

 

[Derrel]

"Depends". If your camera is of high MP count,m and your shooting technique is very careful and meticulous, and you exercise good shot discipline, it's relatively easy to shoot "looser", and "back off" a bit, then crop-in later at the computer, to make the desired aspect ratios. There ARE custom viewfinder screens available from places like Katz Eye, that have scribed marks in the screen, showing standard print aspect ratios.

 

[TCampbell]

I used to shoot with a Hasselblad which uses a square 2-1/4" x 2-1/4" negative. Obviously a square negative doesn't work so well when everything is printed as a rectangle. We etched crop-marks on the viewfinder for both horizontal and vertical shots (because when you're camera shoots square negatives, there's no point turning the camera on it's side to shoot a vertical orientation shot.)

Depending on your camera, you may be able to get spare focusing screens. You could always pick up a screen and draw the common printing sizes on it as a framing reference.

I usually do frame the shot the way I want it printed, except I pad the borders just a bit.

 

[Hobbytog]

I frame the shot in the viewfinder then zoom out a little before pressing the shutter button. I find it allows for thing I've not noticed and gives a little room to effect a crop.

 

[KenC]

It's a good idea to leave a little extra room not only for the reasons stated above, but also because if you frame tightly and then discover that you want to straighten the image, you will lose some on the edges.

 

[The_Traveler]

It all depends on what kind of shooting you are doing.
Those who shoot relatively static scenes, landscape, portraits, posed shots of some sort should be damn close.

Those who shoot more dynamic things, sports, street photos,candids - shoot looser and hope to get enough of the scene.

 

[bhop]

I mostly print 4x6 and my film frames seem to fit without cropping..

 

[KmH]

I usually print "digital" sizes, because the standard sizes are stupid. And I frame accordingly

Digital sizes (APS-C and FF) are usually 3:2 aspect ratio because that is the aspect ratio of 135 format film (35 mm). In other words most film photographers have always had the same print size issues.

Traditional studio cameras are 5:4 aspect ratio, which is why 8x10 is popular.

7:5 is another popular aspect ratio, because that is what wallet size photos usually are.

A lot of P&S camera image sensors are 4:3 aspect ratio, as are 4/3rd format DSLRs.

 

[teribithia]

I usually print "digital" sizes, because the standard sizes are stupid. And I frame accordingly

Mee too

 

[MLeeK]

I always leave extra room on the long side of the image. I know that an 8x10 is going to cut off about 2 inches in the worst case scenario.

 

[480sparky41 40]