[horribleman]

I took a photo I really like of a tramp the other day, and I have loaded two versions to my flickr.

Which composition do you guys like the best:

Close crop:

or Rule of Thirds:

Cheers!

[1LeeDenton]

Close crop for me mate, despite the image being slightly noisy....cracking tramp by the way!!

[stevegreen]

I agree. The first is definitely the best (though a little oversharpened IMO), as it happens this also follows the rule of thirds too.........look where his face is in the frame

[horribleman]

No sharpening as far as I can recall, but I did play about with the highlight/shadows adjustments in photoshop

The reason I posted this is because I was reading learning to see creatively by Bryan Petersen and he really bigs up 'filling the frame' and I thought that was a good candidate to try it out with.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

[bodoman]

How dare you post a picture of me without my permission

Like the photo though and prefer the close crop.

[tomson]

i like the cropped version out of the two but can't help feeling it needs a bit more space on the left hand side - His eyes and his slight lean draw you to the left and it looks like he's about to fall out of the picture.

I'd lose a bit of his right shoulder and add some space to the left.

[Radiohead]

I'd be tempted to go somewhere in the middle - I agree it needs some space to the left. Somewhere for the geezer to yell into.

[pixelpixel]

I like the other version but feel a simple B&W version would give it more punch.

[Luffy]

Close crop for me

[mucca_D]

close up for me, and agree with stevegreen. the close up works because the head it not in the middle of the shot and he is not straight on camera like a passport photo.

What was he laughing at?

[horribleman]

He started playing frisbee with us and someone must have caught one of his shots.

Then we gave him some food and beer

[werewolf40]

No 2 for me

[calypso69er]

Close crop is the best for me. I'm glad you gave him something for his trouble as well!

[Tobers]

I prefer the wide shot. 2 reasons - you've left the background very dark behind him making his head/face stand out so much better, and he looks like he's ranting into open space, highlighting a feeling of loneliness and separation.

[allie_c]

Originally Posted by Tobers

I prefer the wide shot. 2 reasons - you've left the background very dark behind him making his head/face stand out so much better, and he looks like he's ranting into open space, highlighting a feeling of loneliness and separation.

Totally agree. The second shot is the best for me too. Its a great shot.

Alistair.

[Liquid101]

Yes, it's the wide shot for me as well - really nice. A little heavy on contrast for me - but still a great shot. The close version is just to tight for me.

[horribleman]

Thanks again. It's odd but I went from liking the close crop to liking the wider shot more.

Does anyone else do that - i.e. change their preference on their own shots?

[RobDickinson]

Definatly the wider shot.

The crop has more initial impact but loooking at them botht he 1/3rds shot has more overall asthetic value & looses little of the impact of the 1st.

[Tobers]

Originally Posted by horribleman

Does anyone else do that - i.e. change their preference on their own shots?

All the time, especially just after I've submitted my competition shots

I just had to reply to this, because The logic is confusing me? The close crop of your image also follows the rule of thirds, just as much as the wide shot.

I also prefer the close crop by the way.

[mg-paul]

I like the wider one. I think the space gives the sharpness and detail of the subject more impact.