squares – PoetryPix

Now is a good time to review the 2019 photo archive. The ever-ready delete button helps separate ‘the wheat from the chaff’ but before I do so, I like to review and examine why the photo did not work (aside from the obvious technical fails of light & clarity which even post editing never quite puts right).

What was I after in taking this photo?
Is the focus there but too distant/blurred/uninteresting?
Is there a way of cropping in the subject matter?
– can I crop without losing clarity
– should I change the aspect ratio with a crop

Cropping is not just about removing blemishes but also offers a re-framing opportunity which may give better focus. I tend to capture images on a 4:3 ratio and as is evident from the following, this is not always the best frame.

**January 2019 ~ 4:3** uncropped
[Reflections look good without the 2/3rd rule – wide and deep]

**February 2019 ~ 16:10 crop**
narrower view emphasises the cosy corner of the quay

**March 2019 ~ 11:8.5 crop**
always a challenge keeping the heights where the focus includes low horizontals

**April 2019: 16:10** crop
greater feeling of intimacy along the bluebell path

**May 2019 ~ 16:10 crop**
reducing water and sky to focus on the London skyline

**June 2019 ~ 16:9 crop**
emphasises vastness of wheat field and keeps focus on distant re-vegetated slag heap

**July 2019 ~ crop 5:4**
a softer focused crop than the square

**August 2019 ~ 6:4 crop**
narrowing the landscape to bring viewer in closer

**September 2019 ~ 16:10 crop**
dispensed with unnecessary surrounds which gave an empty, distant feel for this quay

**September 2019 4:3 uncropped**
perfect ratio for the eyeline of this more abstract shot with colour cross-prcessing

**October 2019 ~ 7:5 crop**
keeping the vastness of the scene but hemming the subject into view

**November 2019 ~ 16:9 crop**
almost managing a panorama of Plymouth

**December 2019 ~ 11:8.5 crop**
getting in on the detail of the Christmas pot-pourri

Conclusion: To a great extent, the subject/scene determines aspect ratio for visual satisfaction but were I to want to print images then 4:3 or 3:2 are the best fit for standard paper sizes. My camera has 4 aspect ratio settings: 3:2; 4:3: 16:9; 1:1 – I should try using these variations more often, rather than cropping later.

Note: For those who like 1:1 ratio, Becky is Squaring the ‘-light’ in 2 weeks

Links:
How to know which aspect ratio to use in your photography

Introspectives: thinking out loud with an aim to improve and learn more about photography. Hence the images are not always for show – feedback is welcome.