DIY Photography

Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

How to crop your photos for impact and creativity

Jul 27, 2017 by John Aldred 3 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

One of the big selling points of high resolution cameras like the Nikon D810 and Canon 5DS are the ability to “crop in post”. Typically when people say this, though, they mean their lenses aren’t long enough and they want to be able to crop into the detail. Or, they’re tracking a moving subject that would be difficult to follow if they were trying to fill the frame.

But there’s more to cropping than just closing in on a small part of the image. Many cameras today are a 3:2 aspect ratio. Some mirrorless ones are 4:3. But there are so many more formats out there that give a different look and feel to your final shot. This video from Craig Roberts at e6 talks us through where they come from, and what they can imply to the viewer.

Traditionally, cropping was simply a function of the film or camera you used. Large format was mostly at a 4:5 ratio. Medium format was either 4:3, 6:7 or 1:1 square. 35mm was usually 3:2. Then there are those crazy 6:17 panoramics. As a consequence there never really has been a standard aspect ratio for prints.

Photographers would choose a format that best represented what they wish their images to convey, then acquire a camera that shot that format. Of course, you could do some re-cropping in the darkroom, too, but this wasn’t most photographers. Especially those just shooting 35mm.

These days we have so much more freedom, but few seem to take advantage of it. Beyond cropping square for Instagram, the majority of images I see posted online and even in print are 3:2.

So kick off those 3:2 shackles, live a little, and think a bit more about the aspect ratio of your shots. There’s a reason most labs offer print sizes in ratios that aren’t 3:2.

Learning to see in different aspect ratios can be wonderful for your online use, too. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other platforms all use different ratios for various things. Facebook has three for different cover photos alone (page vs profile vs event).

And if you’re having trouble “seeing” different aspect ratios while you’re actually shooting, check out these handy templates.

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailThese Conceptual Iphone Photos Show That Creativity Trumps Gear Every Time The impact of low-angle shots on your photos and videos Winning photos of 2019 Environmental Photographer of the Year show devastating impact of climate change Apply these five simple tips to add impact to your photos

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: aspect ratio, Craig Roberts, crop format, e6

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

« Photographers spends years photographing rats to break the stereotypes about them
The Nikon D850 might just be the world’s first hybrid OVF/EVF DSLR »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Sony’s ZV-E1 is a cut-down FX3 in a vlogging form factor
  • Watch: How good (or bad) is an $8.50 tripod?
  • How to light and photograph Lego building interiors
  • Lighting Setup: How to light your portraits with £50 LED tubes
  • Review: Insta360 announces its first gimbal – The AI-tracking Insta360 Flow

Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy