Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course Photojournalism. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nathanael Callon

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1 Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course Cropping In the best-case scenario, a quality photograph would come directly from the camera, but improvements can be made after the shutter is released. Cropping is one of the improvement practices that can be used both before and after you take a shot. If you understand the purpose and techniques of this practice, you can make your photographs communicate more effectively and make them more usable in your publications. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nathanael Callon Definition Methods of Cropping Guidelines Cropping People The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 1

2 Cropping Cropping is the technique of enhancing a photograph by eliminating distractions, improving composition and, as a last consideration, fitting a photograph into a layout. The definition is simple, but the practice of it can confound some people. 2 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs

3 Methods of cropping The methods to crop an image include through the viewfinder, using imageediting software and using the cropping tools in desktop publishing software. Viewfinder Viewfinder The best and most preferred way to crop an image is in the viewfinder when composing the photograph. Cropping using this method involves ensuring that only the most important elements are in your shot in a manner that reflects the correct use of compositional techniques. Always be on the lookout for obvious distractions and keep them out of your frame. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jasmine Slaton The image above was taken too wide. This resulted in dead space on the top and to the right. By simply moving the camera (image to the left) you can crop the image in the viewfinder to eliminate the dead space. The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 3

4 Cropping Image editing software Image editing software: Cropping an image using software like Photoshop can eliminate distractions and make your composition stronger. Cropping in this fashion should not be drastic. The goal is to make the image stronger by removing distractions without completely changing the image. Remember when cropping using image editing software you should also be re-sizing the image. The size you use will depend on the medium you will be using for publishing the image. There are two settings to keep in mind when sizing your images: Image Size, and Resolution. The Image Size is the actual dimensions of the photo when printed. Standard sizes are 2x3, 3 1/2 x 5, 4 x 6, 5 x 7, and 8 x 10. The dimensions are listed width x height, so a vertical image would be 5 x 7 while a horizontal image would be 7 x 5. Image editing software Original Image Removed the distraction and sized the photo to a standard 5x7 format Resolution is the number of pixels per inch. In digital photography photos are recorded in squares, or pixels. The more pixels, the higher the quality of the photo. Your image was recorded, based on the type of camera you have, at so many pixels per inch. You do not want to crop your photos too much or else they will become pixilated (unclear due to visible squares). Desktop publishing software Cropping an image too much can result in an image not suitable for publication Desktop publishing software: Cropping in the desktop publishing software is the worst way to crop. While it is possible, anything more than the smallest of changes can distort, pixilate and otherwise degrade the image as these programs were not designed around image editing. If you must crop your image, it is best to take the time and go back into your image editing software to make the change. Desktop publishing software 4 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs

5 Cropping guidelines Below are the basic guidelines eliminating distractions, improving composition and fitting the layout to effectively crop photographs. Eliminating distractions This is the process of deleting unwanted or distracting elements that detract from the photograph or compete with the center of interest for attention. y Keep one area of interest in each photo. y Study the photo carefully and eliminate everything that does not contribute to the message or purpose of the photograph. y Limit the number of people in the photograph to only those absolutely necessary, generally, no more than three. Every face should be at least the size of a dime when published. y Crop ruthlessly. A picture, like a story, should say what it has to say and no more or less. Improve composition To improve the composition of a photo, present the center of interest without altering the intent of the photo. y Most photographs are cropped in a 5:4 or 3:2 ratio, but an unusually wide or tall photograph will attract attention because of its exaggerated shape. y Generally speaking, don t crop photographs into squares; they are considered static and lack direction or motion. y Never crop for the sake of cropping. Fit the layout Cropping can be done to satisfy editorial (layout) demands for a vertical or horizontal picture. y Cropping the top or bottom creates a more horizontal photo than the original. Conversely, cropping the sides creates a more vertical photo. y This type of cropping can damage the impact of a photograph and should only be used when absolutely necessary. y Ultimately, your layout should be designed around the photograph, not the other way around. The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 5

6 Eliminate distractions Original image U.S. Navy photo by PH1 Nathanael T. Miller Cropped image A little bit of cropping gets you closer to the action and eliminates some background distractions. 6 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs

7 Eliminate distractions Original image U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ruby Zarzyczny Cropped image By eliminating some of the dead space where the action isn t, you get your reader closer to the subject. The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 7

8 Eliminate distractions Original image U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kelsey J. Green Cropped image What was originally shot as a horizontal image can be cropped into a vertical image to tell a slightly different story. 8 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs

9 Improve composition U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Dow Original image Cropped image Cropping this photo vertically still gives the airman room to move into the frame, while concentrating the viewer s attention on her. The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 9

10 Improve composition Original image U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nathanael T. Miller y Sometimes you may only have enough time to catch a few hurried photos of the scene. y How could cropping help improve this photo? Cropped image U.S. Navy photo by PH1 Nathanael T. Miller Cropping out the legs makes a tighter photo. Many times legs add no information to a photo and may be cropped out. 10 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs

11 Improve composition Original image U.S. Navy photo by PH3 Tom Gilligan Cropped image This cropped version also eliminates many of the distractions in the background and foreground. The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 11

12 Fit the layout Original image Photo by U.S. Marine Cpl Trent Lowry The layout calls for a more vertical shot, and cropping this photo as such won t take away the image s original intent (as seen on the following page). 12 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs

13 Fit the layout Cropped image The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 13

14 Cropping Cropping people Special care must be taken when cropping the human shape. The cropped area should appear natural and not jarring to the eye. Cropping portraits -- Leave a comfortable amount of space around the head when possible. yy When cropping into the head, it must be done boldly enough that it appears purposely done. yy Always crop behind the ear. Make the ear visible. yy If the neck is included, leave a bit of the shoulders in the picture to act as a pedestal for the head. Avoid the decapitated look. yy For tight mug shots, crop directly under the chin, eliminating all of the neck. Cropped image (People in your image who are not the subject are to be treated as background/props. Crop to higlight subject, not the backgroud) U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Rachael L. Leslie Original image 14 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs

15 Cropping people Cropping full photographs -- Never amputate the subject. Don t crop at the joints (fingers, wrists, elbows, ankles or knees). y Avoid cropping along major intersections of the body. For example, don t slice between the arm and shoulder, or at the Adam s apple on the neck. When cropping out the lower half of the body, it is best done just below the rib cage. Official U.S. Air Force photo of aviation pioneer Jacqueline Cochran, first commander of the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II. y Unless the lower part of the subject provides significant details, crop it out. Legs and feet rarely add anything to the photo. We communicate with each other mainly through the face, so get your reader closer to the subject s face. Crop the legs, but don t amputate the hands. The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 15

16 Cropping people U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Athanasois L. Genos Original image Poorly cropped image By cropping this Marine in half, we have made the photo awkward to view. Better cropped image This image allows the entire action to be captured without unnecessarily amputating body any parts. 16 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs

17 Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course Conclusion You are now armed with the information to properly enhance your publications. By knowing how to crop your images you will get clear information across to your readers. This will also help your publication clearly tell the story. More readers will enjoy your publication not only because of the information but the pleasing visuals. The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 17

18 References London, B., Upton, J., Kobre, K., and Brill, B. (2001). Photography (7th ed.). Prentice Hall Tompkins, A. (2004). The accidental photojournalist. The Poynter Institute. Retrieved May 11, 2009 Hurley, G. & McDougall, A. (1975). Visual impact in print. Kobre, K. (2000). : The professional a approach, Fourth edition. Focal Press Upton, B. & Upton, J. (1981). Photography. Little, Brown & Co. Morely, D. (1978). The focal guide to action photography. Focal Press, London England Kerns, R. (1980). : Photography with a purpose. Prentice Hall (1987) SECNAVINST A: Public affairs policy and regulation. Retrieved May 04, 2009 Nikon D70 owners manual SB800 Flash Manual BPASC Handbook (2009) 18 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs