GBH Cropping Preferences?

[largelylivin]

I've been pushing myself to avoid those standard centered bird crops and feeling a bit uncomfortable at times, especially when cropping away part of the subject. Here's a series of the same shot> I'd like your opinons and suggestions.


I realize that this pic is a bit like trying making a silk purse out of a pigs ear, but the exercise is still valid.


http://smile-123.smugmug.com/photos/561673938_XYZ3A-L.jpg


http://smile-123.smugmug.com/photos/541737884_yE8CS-L.jpg

http://smile-123.smugmug.com/photos/541737218_TJpAB-L.jpg

[Ric Grupe]

The first! No doubt here.:D

[largelylivin]

This all started because I disliked the loss of detail in the shadows under the wings so I messed around trying to save it. I don't like the second photo at all - its too unbalanced. I like the third best because of the fine texture and detail but when ever I look at it its strikes me as "odd". I fear that my response to the 3rd is just because I am being trapped by the norm.

[Bud1880]

The first! No doubt here.:D
Agreed. Definitely the first for my preference.

Bud

[Dennis Kaczor]

# 1 for sure, the other crops just don't look right at all.

[Every Miles A Memory]

I like #1, but for some reason I like #3 for the artistic perspective of it.

Although if I could only get #3, I'd probably delete it and be upset with myself....LOL

But knowing its a crop makes it more artistic, if that makes any sense?

[raptorcaptor]

Sofar #1 is the best cropping. It could still use about 1/3 more space in front of the GBH.

The second does not work because cropping only one wing tethers the bird to the boundary, which is visually disturbing.

The third photo needs to be cropped significantly tighter to work. Try and get the eye in the top right third of the frame. Crop just after the leg on the left.