To crop or not to crop?

[Ian]

Here is another from my recent Thailand visit. My father's Thai wife is a primary school teacher at a rural school near the town of Kalasin. Here are a couple of the pupils waiting to go home. The bottom picture is a cropped version of the top image. Which do you prefer?

Ian

[Pol]

Re: To crop or not to crop?

Not easy to decide as I like them both for different reasons.

I think maybe I prefer the first image as it portrays more of the full story and what I'd assume you wanted to convey ... ie a couple of friends just out of school, complete with schoolbag and clutching other bits and pieces. In short - it exudes 'life' and a glimpse of the daily routine.

I like the second one too as it closes in on the kids - but the one on the left isn't looking in the direction of the camera. I love the hand on the left too looks like she has a bag of Maltesers but the crop robs the picci of that innocent, charming little glimpse.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: To crop or not to crop?

Not easy to decide as I like them both for different reasons.

I think maybe I prefer the first image as it portrays more of the full story and what I'd assume you wanted to convey ... ie a couple of friends just out of school, complete with schoolbag and clutching other bits and pieces. In short - it exudes 'life' and a glimpse of the daily routine.

I like the second one too as it closes in on the kids - but the one on the left isn't looking in the direction of the camera. I love the hand on the left too looks like she has a bag of Maltesers but the crop robs the picci of that innocent, charming little glimpse.

Pol

Thanks Pol - Maltesers, well spotted! I brought a bag of sweeties for the kids. Chocolate was a bad choice though! Despite the cool-ish weather, was still warm in the sunshine. Melted chocolate everwhere

Ian

[Ian]

Re: To crop or not to crop?

Another from the school - I took this shot because the girl on the left was smiling so sweetly, but the show-stealer is the girl on the right! The lads in th back add another dimension too.

The reds have gone a bot OTT in the browser compared to in Photoshop:

Ian

[Pol]

Re: To crop or not to crop?

Aww, they're very cute little kids!

I must admit I was wondering about the Maltesers - so that explains it. She was obviously very pleased to have such a rare treat so she hung onto the bag.


Pol

[Ian]

Re: To crop or not to crop?

Aww, they're very cute little kids!

I must admit I was wondering about the Maltesers - so that explains it. She was obviously very pleased to have such a rare treat so she hung onto the bag.


Pol

If you were wondering, that's talcum powder on some of their faces.

They all have to brush their teeth after lunch and have a nap too

Ian

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: To crop or not to crop?

I'm always being accused of cropping to much, so I'd go for a really tight crop showing just the subjects.

Alternatively the "Environmental" portrate would demand the inclusion of even more of the surroundings.

Either way the images will be valued reminders of what must be a very memorable event.

[Julia]

Re: To crop or not to crop?

I prefer the un-cropped one for the same reason - it tells more of the story.