Be bold; crops matter! (+ meet my hero of 2024 🦸🏻💥)

[@benharveyphotography]

Another interesting Video Louise. I like the use of the 1:1 crop for fine art black and white images of architecture as they are more ‘calming’ for the reason that you describe. There is no darting around the frame for the viewers eyes as the content is all in the middle of the frame. Most of the time the buildings do not have a lead in line, the depth is created by manipulation shadows and highlights etc. I do tend to keep my aspect ratio for horizontal & vertical at 3:2 only for ease of printing when someone requests a mounted and framed image, which inevitably means bespoke framing. I also have a panoramic aspect ratio in my Lightroom presets which is 17:3 based upon a film format (almost the same as 3:1)

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@benharveyphotography hey Ben, your fine art b and w processing so incredibly impactful. The eye darting doesn’t happen with your methods. I’m not that confident or competent and thus I need to sharpen my approach particularly to have more visual impact. A focus for the future perhaps. One day I’ll be more purposeful by reflex, at the moment it’s a conscious decision that I need to remember to take. Have a cracking week and thanks 👍

[@DanaPushie]

Great encouragement Louise. I really enjoyed your photo examples. Great shots. Unexpectedly, I love the minimalist misty roof top with trees (time stamp 3:40). All that negative space with the off centre placement of the subject just grabbed my attention. If it were mine it would end up on my wall. Be bold! Cheers. Love your videos.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@DanaPushie thanks Dana, appreciated. Not long until your big trip. Enjoy it 👍

[@DanaPushie]

Just 10 more sleeps!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@DanaPushie travel carefully and… welcome to the UK in advance… our weather is iffy at the moment. Be waterproof and warm 👍

[@davidskinner274]

Your best video I have seen so far, Louise, highly intuitive 👍

[@louisewelcomephotography]

You are very kind David. 🙏

[@davidskinner274]

@@louisewelcomephotography I have suggested 617 members should take a look, as we are talking about panoramic images , especially 6 X 17 ration, pretty close to 3:1.

[@wongowonga]

Wow amazing photos.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@wongowonga cheers Craig, 😊

[@christianpetersen1782]

Louise, what an inspiring video. I seem to go through phases of liking aspect ratios too. I want to like 5x4 but find it often doesn’t fit the subject. I don’t have your artistic eye but I’m working on it when shooting alone. Having company puts me off. Your Slovakian castle with empty space is beautiful but to me that’s the exception. Most others don’t allow for my eyes to roll enough through the photo. It’s a wham, bam straight on the subject which in itself maybe very interesting but missing out on the eye-rolling! For me a square cropped subject has to be more than a silhouette, it would have to have extra interest of shapes or contrast or something! But your 3x1’s are to die for. I guess what I’m saying is that all formats can be great given the right subject. This is a super-satisfying test for the artistic eye when shooting and less so for the ‘lazy’ way in post. This is only my take on it and I guess it’s horses for courses. You can please all of the people some of the time . . .?

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@christianpetersen1782 that is very true Christian. I think the square requires a level of artistic skill I have yet to develop to have real impact. Rachel Talibart did a cracking series of shots taken locally to me and I look to them and think… ‘one day’. I think is can also be powerful for city scapes. Trevor Sherwin released a blog on this a few days before this video went out… I found it really interesting to explore his thoughts…. Don’t look for that church in Slovakia… it’s Slovenia 🇸🇮 😉😊. You are so right, you can’t please all of the people… 😉. Thanks for your feedback Christian.

[@kenrennie4119]

Interesting Louise. I just crop to whatever looks right to me when I have the image on the computer screen. The only exception is if it is close to 1:1 I make it exactly 1:1. Keep up the good work. Ken

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@kenrennie4119 thank you Ken. Thank you too for providing me inspiration with your photography. I’m off to Wales this weekend… this time not on the back of your shot but my video from Dolgoch was inspired by a shot of yours (not that I knew it was yours at the time). Thanks Ken 👍

[@terrysankey3982]

Excellent video Louise! I enjoyed all your ratio/compositions. I often 'pre-visualise' shapes but frequently just 'go with the 3:2' (I think I just get too excited when exposing!) But I'm often pleasantly surprised when editing that a different dynamic appears on the screen and I just hope there's enough 'room' to make it so! I love the castle shot but see what you mean - I think the area of calm water isolates the dynamic waves and reduces the lead in to the static building - (still wish I'd taken it though!)

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@terrysankey3982 that made me smile when you described the castle shot and said you’d still wish you’d taken it… I feel that so many times when I see people’s work! 😂 I do go for the 3:2 as the issue or room is pertinent. I refuse on principle not to do the AI expand. If I’ve messed it up on location then I need to live with it and learn! 😬😉 Thanks for the feedback Terry 👍

[@Wiltsman]

Well that gave me a lightbulb moment, composition and aspect ratio links production to delivery. Thanks for a great video, my thought process on my next shoot might be a bit more structured!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@Wiltsman I just hope mine can be too 😉😂. Seriously, I have to remind myself to be more intentional as it’s not reflex at the moment but, here’s to us both having success. Good luck 👍

[@IanBrowne-x6n]

Me too; totally agree about square photos. I go one further by often rotating the file (when possible/practical) and the crop/rotation is usually considered at the time of taking photo. That is often when I give the subject a name ---- the reason for making the photo. Perhaps others might also consider: Not every subject/scene is made to fit perfectly on every digital sensor or film format, so cropping is a must do imo and certain shouldn't be in the "must never be done" box. That's boring.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@IanBrowne-x6n love a creative rotation. Ian, I’m with you, crop away. I don’t name my shots now as I was getting silly but your approach makes sense…. Hmmmmm something to consider me thinks! Cheers Ian. 👍

[@LauMagroTheFrenchKOInection]

Hahaha the dog's wotsits. That cracked me up 😂 some great photos. Aspect ratio can make or break, you nailed it there.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@LauMagroTheFrenchKOInection thank you Lau, appreciated 🙃👍

[@ThomasClemens]

Brilliant and very inspiring video!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@ThomasClemens thank you Thomas, 😊

[@neileverett5183]

Great video Louise I must admit I do like a black and white square crop. The Square crop with the church offset withe the negative space is a corking photograph.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@neileverett5183 thank you Neil. I confess it was probably the best morning I have ever had photographing. It is so evocative of the peek a boo excitement of that day. Thanks for the feedback 👍

[@scotty4418]

Love a square crop for the reasons you stated in your video Louise and been experimenting a little with the 2.35:1 ratio too. Julia Anna Gospodarou has a great series of architectural images done in a vertorama style crop which is quite effective too which I tried and liked so it's an area I would like explore more

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@scotty4418 ohhh Scotty, I need to research more! I think the square in architecture is powerful and Trevor Sherwin just published a blog on his work. V interesting. But I am going to look at your lady… thank you hugely 🙏. And also for the London location heads up. The penny dropped that it was you last month! 👍

[@fredintheshead]

Couldn't agree more. I'm just a keen amateur, but recently won £50 just by cropping what started as an uninteresting composition (when viewed on my PC) into a square crop. Lesson learned! 🤪

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@fredintheshead boom 💥 every one’s a winner! Nice work 👍

[@alandargie9358]

very interesting and thought provoking, thank you for that! Since I started printing my favourite photos about a year ago I find that the aspect ratio is somewhat limited by the paper shape (or maybe that's just me not wanting to waste too much of the surface of the sheet!).

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@alandargie9358 and that is sensible! I don’t print my own yet… so I am in the heady realms of ‘can you print this’ without a care in the world. Thanks for the feedback, something for me to think about 👍

[@TC_Conner]

I like your new crop ratios! Especially 3:1. (“Dogs Wotsits?”)

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@TC_Conner the expression we say here is the dog’s b o**o ck s. But thought that might get me into trouble. 3:1… love! 1:1…. Weeelll, I need to practice somewhat! Good to hear from you TC 👍

[@TC_Conner]

@@louisewelcomephotography And so now I’m puzzled by “b o**o ck s.” 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@scrptwic]

Louise I have never looked at aspect ratios when I crop I just look at what looks good to my eye and go with that. I should give the ratios a try as my editing program has them i just never use them. I miss a lot of things in the corners and sides as I tend to focus on the subject and end up cropping out the distractions

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@scrptwic I have done similar but am trying to see if being a bit more reflective in the field makes a difference. With the 3:1, it’s been interesting but the 1:1 is far behind in my ability to make it work. What I am fastidious about is edge patrol. I am obsessed. Thank you for the feedback 👍😊

[@TobiasKey]

I always have had a love-hate relationship with cropping. Partly because of my age, I am old enough to have been a professional photographer when images were sometimes delivered as mounted slides, so cropping was impossible and any small failure to notice something at the edge of frame meant a completely failed image. So I still feel that trying to crop after the fact to save an image is something I am not all that comfortable with, just ingrained habit I suppose. Intentional cropping is obviously different, but their is always a slight wrench when you throw some of your expensive megapixels away. I do tend to shoot film for landscapes, mainly with a 5x4 field camera but I do have a Rolleiflex. That is a great camera to learn to shoot the square format on as it is so portable. I found that it was much quicker to learn how to shoot square format when that was the only choice I had. I also believe that if you are working on a themed series it is quite dangerous to bounce from one format to another, as you risk ending up with a series of images that do not sit together as a whole. Better to pick a theme and a format and pursue to its finish.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@TobiasKey Yobias, I found this really interesting and I thank you for taking the time to write your response. I do appreciate the bouncing around comment and when I have seen photographers excel in the 1:1 format in particular, it has been as part of a purposeful pursuit, a focus on exploring the creative opportunities of that format. I have a screen shot of one of Rachel Talibart’s Sussex squares on my phone for inspiration. Just stunning 👌

[@TobiasKey]

@@louisewelcomephotography Sometimes I like to imagine I am creating a themed calendar. Not too ambitious just twelve related images. It also helps I think if you are have several 'calendar' projects at once that correspond or are more suited to different conditions.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@TobiasKey that works… also a good approach for exhibiting too. I like that a lot. Thank you 🙏

[@mikephillipsphotography]

Thanks to Nikon's destructive crop I normally shoot full frame 3:2 and worry about the crop later. I do like a square crop in post from time to time. Rachael Talibart's recent aspect ratio posts and Trevor Sherwin's blog on square crop might be of interest to you Louise.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

Oh Mike, I utterly agree. I loved Trevor’s London series and his blog which came out a few days ago was superb. And, you know I have one of Rachel T’s squares on my phone for inspiration. One day, my son, we’ll be… really good at them! That’s the nearest I could get to Delboy for you 👍. I hope you are still buzzing from your Shona experience… I am 👌

[@Rick--A-F]

I usually crop my photos to get the composition I want, I rarely ever have a finished image in any standard ratio. I'd be a picture framers nightmare!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@Rick--A-F that made me smile. Thank you Rick 👍

[@janh6639]

🤔🤔 😯😯 3-1 I have always been pretty conservative and like you said stuck to 7-5 etc but your shots in 3-1 wow pups nuts. I do use square crop and that tends to be for b/w but I will be thinking about ratio for sure next time I am out. If it ever stops raining 😕

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@janh6639 ohhhh the rain… it’s rather relentless at the moment. I wish you a more purposeful approach and dryness… rainbows even! 😉👍

[@jbairdexp]

I'm a big fan of the 3:1 crop, and as you pointed out, it looks amazing when printed. Do you use Fotospeed's panoramic paper? I found your thoughts on the 1:1 ratio really interesting. It's rarely a ratio I use but that might have to change now!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@jbairdexp hey Julian, I find the 1:1 so difficult to do well. And I know it’s in the eye of the beholder and all that but… ugh! So hard! Now, I confess that I use the lovely Loxley for my printing and I have currently chosen the Epsom Fine Art Cotton paper. One day I may print myself but for now, the fine people at Loxley rescue me. Very much liked the sea pink shot from Cornwall… I will read it as a reward on my break today. Thank you for the feedback Julian, means a lot!

[@jbairdexp]

@@louisewelcomephotography I'm going to convert you to printing at home! lol There's no better feeling than watching that pano print feed out your printer! 🙂 Glad you like the thrift shot, thank you. 🙂

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@jbairdexp it’s cracking. How much do I need to save? Give me a ball park! 😉

[@jbairdexp]

@@louisewelcomephotography A Canon Pro 300 (the printer I have) is about £600, but they are discounted on a regular basis so it's worth holding out until they are. But even the cheaper Pro-200 is a great option. 🙂

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@jbairdexp ohhhhh… saving up now 😉. Thanks Julian, really appreciated sir.

[@texmex697]

As I only have myself to think about and no social media, I shoot square b and w and if its colour 4:5. How weird thinking about it. Also I shoot b and w most of the time, so why do I use a 6d which I believe people loved for it's colour qualities. I don't know, I just like the feel and balance of it in my hand. I also only use a 40mm pancake lens. I like the limitations as it makes me look and think. And the whole package fits into a large pocket in my jacket or hoodie, making it convenient on a wrist strap.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

Ohhh the 6d does feel good. I love using it and that’s why I had it converted to IR… thus totally going away from colour. My photo buddy will set himself challenges re limitations with lenses. He says similar to you. I think it might do me good to do similar. Hmmmm watch this space -thank you 👍

[@davidskinner274]

Panoramas, single or stitched, for me depends on the lens and whether you can fit everything you want in or not. With ff camera, one shot will have enough pixels.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

True David. Also if those fleeting conditions will last for a number of shots. With my mist shots they had to be single. Happy photographing sir! 😊

[@ManUnhappy]

I’m the opposite I think. I get home and look at my image and wonder why I can’t crop it to look like what I saw. I think I need to spend way more time looking at composition and lens selection before taking my shots.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@ManUnhappy or take them wider do you have choices when you return. And to be fair, my approach is fairly new and I’m having to train myself big time! 😉 Thanks for the feedback, appreciated 👍

[@ElevatedThreat]

Louise, the 3x1 crop I can go with. It does add a sense of epic drama. But the 1x1 is a no go for me. That crop just makes me think of greeting cards for some reason..... Anyway, that's my 2 cents... I'm still wanting that pint in a pub with you. As I think I'm getting a bit of a crush on you. 😉 I just like your happy attitude, and your pretty smiles. 😊

[@louisewelcomephotography]

That made me roar with laughter 😂. Greetings cards… never thought of that and now I can’t unread that. 😂😂 be rest assured I can be a loamy old bint too 😉👍 Thanks for making me laugh.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

By loamy read that as moany 🙈

[@davidmoor8390]

21:9 is one of my favs, always been influenced by movie aspect ratios, 2.35:1 (Cinemascope) is great or anamorphic. Social media kills it though. Lovely video, thanks.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@davidmoor8390 thank you kindly David. Take care. 🙏

[@rickfrye848]

Interesting, but I shoot only for computer screens or internet and crop to what I see in the photo completely disregarding the aspect ratio. Totally free to follow my vision.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@rickfrye848 fair play Rick 👍

[@trevorsneath4665]

Real big on 5:4 and 1:1 lately.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

Yeah, I get the 5:4… it’s strange when I look at the aspect crushes I go through 😊

[@RichardOldroyd-s7n]

WoW think I need to play with 3 1

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@RichardOldroyd-s7n Dooooooo iiiittttt! 😉

[@oneeyedphotographer]

There's one rule in photography. If it looks good, it's good. If 3x1 looks good, does 9x2? Or 10x3? In your 3x1, can you find a square that also looks good? I unsubscribed from a Scottish KZbinr because he kept on banging on about aspect ratios and other rules that make no sense to me.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

It’s probably my only dig into it… I just wanted to share my joy (a bit over the top but you get my drift) at discovering something different for me John. Now you’ve given me more ideas. 💡 I won’t bang on about them though, I promise! 😉

[@oneeyedphotographer]

@@louisewelcomephotography If you do, I might provoke more thought.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@oneeyedphotographer Genuinely, it's not my bag John - this made me chuckle! Thank you.