crop - location vs shadow

[allanrube]

I often get to a situation where I must crop for location - meaning leaving plenty of space for a shorebird to look into vs. not wanting to chop of the bird's shadow but that means moving the bird too far to one side.
In this [post and the next are two crops. Which seems to work better, in terms of what I am asking?

Plenty of room on left - cropped shadow?

[allanrube]

Complete shadow - little room on left

[Harold Davis]

the cropped shadow doesnt bother me much. pretty decent light angle too. but it looks as if you had the AF on the birds body and not on his eye as the body is sharper than the eye. other than that, the original post looks as if the bird is running downhill. may rotate CW a bit. and would also crop a bit of the OOF area on the bottom.. the HAP are probably gonna get you too. but i wont go there!! next time dont forget to post some exif data. it will help in making more suggestions!!

great job on the exposure!!! you had some nice light!

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Alan,
I like Harold's critique but I actually prefer the second image as it conveys the idea that the bird is running through the frame. I would probably crop from the top and the bottom - more of a pano look.
Regards,
Nicki

[Lance Peters]

Agree with MR H. but think I would go with a pano crop on the original.

:)

[allanrube]

Thanks for the comments - they are certainly mixed. I did not think this image was that great, but when I looked at the full frame I had wondered where to crop.

Though I make "pano" shaped images at times, I like to crop to 11 by 15 as this fits in a 16 by 20 frame with nice 2.6 inch margins.

[Desmond Chan]

I think if the complete shadow is there, it'd be good. The second image just needs a bit more room on the left. I tend to agree with Nicki in the sense that the second pic and the first one are not exactly the same kind of pic to me. The second one is more like a action/behavior shot and it's showing me what the bird was doing. The first one is kind of like a portrait and it asks me to focus on the bird itself rather than what it was doing. Just my thoughts.

[Alfred Forns]

If you want to crop the shadow..... should do so just like cropping the bird !!! Don't clip it !!! Make a deliberate crop and will be fine

Here is a toss up on what to do Images with significant elements on the rear are fine with an alternate bird placement !!! btw would suggest to crop a little from top and bottom !!!

[Katie Rupp]

Allan, I like the second crop for the same reason Nicki gave---the feeling of action. Good capture!

[allanrube]

As I keep looking at them I like 2 better also.
Question: Do you try to keep the same dimensions on your pictures so they fit into a standard frame or do you just go with "the style"? I definitely can crop from top of bottom but then it would be non-standard.

[Katie Rupp]

Allan, for me, the image dictates the crop and then I can get a custom cut inside a standard sized mat for easier framing option.

[Tell Dickinson]

Hi out of the two I prefer the first :) but if you added canvas to the left on the second (which would turn it into a pano) then I think you would have the best of both :)

Tell