Perfect Composition with Cropping | Photography

By DavidPeters
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Composition is key in the making of a great photo. While many elements go into a photograph, composition can either invite the viewer into the image or keep the image one dimensional and without feeling. How all of the elements in a picture interact with each other through their placement develops the story and message the photograph is wanting to relate to the viewer.

Good composition can turn an average snapshot into a professionals photograph. Composition is comprised of many factors. Some simple elements of composition are the framing and cropping of an image.

Photoshop can enhance the composition of a photograph through the use of the cropping tool. With this tool, you can quickly and effortlessly cut out parts of the photo that you don't want or that divert focus from the main subject. By allowing you to measure areas to be cut, Photoshop makes cropping as exact as you need it to be.

A major benefit that comes with cropping with Photoshop's cropping tool is that rethinking your photograph is never a problem. If you aren't satisfies with your end result, simply start over from the beginning. The possibilities are endless to what you can accomplish.

Better Cropping Tips:

Rule of Thirds:

One example of the differences between the professional and the novice photographer is in the placement of the subject within the image. The professional seldom centers the subject in the picture, while the amateur almost always does. Place the subject off center for a much more professional and eye-catching result. Imagine lines dividing your image into thirds and crop your picture accordingly so that the subject lies in one of the outer thirds. Make a copy of the original photograph in a separate folder for reference, and then try out cropping your subject using the rule of thirds.

Cropping to Traditional Print Sizes

Standard photo sizes such as 4x6 are easier to frame, so make sure to check the sizing when cropping a photo. Should your image not conform to standard dimensions, simply cut off or add back a little of your photo to meet these sizes. Without this, a photo lab may crop off more than you would want or in the wrong area of the photo to make them print the right size.

Framing becomes a thing of photography days gone by thanks to the ease by which Photoshop allows you to crop photos. All you have to do is edit images via computer. Dont worry about what your version of Photoshop is. The technical aspects of using the cropping tool are basically the same from Photoshop Elements to the more advanced version, Photoshop CS.

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