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08/01/2006 01:41:15 PM · #1 |
In my short time here at DPC I've seen quite a few opinions about centering a subject in the frame. Many viewers seem to like off-centered subjects and I can see how that would add interest to a shot.
Do voters vote lower if a subject is centered? I'm debating cropping for my next submission - I like what I have but it is somewhat centered. For this shot, I'm not sure it makes sense to recrop it off-centered, although I certainly have the room to do so if I wanted.
I'm just looking for opinions on how others crop. I tried to search for an existing thread but the forum search is close to useless IMO. |
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08/01/2006 01:42:46 PM · #2 |
Is centering a subject ever a good thing?
Yes |
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08/01/2006 01:43:31 PM · #3 |
| If it looks better, yeh. If it has a purpose, yeh. |
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08/01/2006 01:44:23 PM · #4 |
Google "Rules of composition" - you'll begin to see when centering is or is not a good idea.
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08/01/2006 01:44:23 PM · #5 |
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08/01/2006 01:45:12 PM · #6 |
| it's a feeling and a choice, I think. |
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08/01/2006 01:45:42 PM · #7 |
| Sure, sometimes it is. It all depends on the image, really IMO, and what you're trying to do with the photo. But you will still find differing opinions. You may center a shot, and some will say hey, that works well centered, I like it, and you will get some that will say, it would be better if you got the subject out of the center. |
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08/01/2006 01:46:15 PM · #8 |
Go to challenge archives ( //www.dpchallenge.com/challenge_archive.php ) and scroll the page to see the ribbon winners; quite a few of them are pretty-much centered, especially if you include images that have the subject centered horizontally but not vertically.
R.
Message edited by author 2006-08-01 13:46:48.
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08/01/2006 01:54:34 PM · #9 |
hmmm, I can't believe noone has posted any examples yet :-P
So, ok, I'm all about shameless self promotion, so here are a couple (all right, several) of mine that I think, in my most humblest opinion, work. :-)
 
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08/01/2006 01:57:53 PM · #10 |
who said examples? ;-)
   
couple of mine |
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08/01/2006 01:58:00 PM · #11 |
Yes...often, if done with a purpose other than being too lazy to recompose a shot.
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08/01/2006 02:02:15 PM · #12 |
Here is one of mine that was intentionally centered... and it took several shots to get it just right!
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08/01/2006 02:06:21 PM · #13 |
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08/01/2006 02:08:12 PM · #14 |
Like any of the 'official' rules of photography, the rule of thirds is meant to be broken. But like breaking any rule, you need to make sure its the right time to break it. Also, if you look at most of the centered images posted, they are mostly either tight crops or the centered subject has something of interest that is not centered (for example, eyes) that pulls the image one way or another.
Look at the image centered and cropped in different ways and decide what you are most comfortable with. |
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08/01/2006 02:09:03 PM · #15 |
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08/01/2006 02:16:52 PM · #16 |
Centered Composition Challenge -- I'm guessing a lot of the Square Crop challenge images are likely centered too ...
Just a bare sampling of my own ...
  
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08/01/2006 02:17:22 PM · #17 |
Wow, thanks everyone.
Originally posted by dahkota:
Also, if you look at most of the centered images posted, they are mostly either tight crops or the centered subject has something of interest that is not centered (for example, eyes) that pulls the image one way or another. |
I think this is a good point. While overall, the subject may be centered, there are parts of the subject which move your eye around the composition or move it off center.
Thanks again - I'll crop a few different ways and pick one. |
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08/01/2006 03:03:15 PM · #18 |
I'd certainly agree and say yes.
It all depends on the shot and what you are trying to achieve.
-Hideo |
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08/01/2006 03:08:05 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by biteme:
who said examples? ;-)
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That one's great. I thought I had added it as a favorite, but I guess I forgot to. I will now :) |
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08/01/2006 03:12:40 PM · #20 |
?
I think if it has leading lines right to it, it sometimes works. depends on the subject.
the more i photograph, the more I look for 'thirds', but occassionally (like this example) I like it the best centred.
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08/01/2006 03:43:37 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by MadMan2k:
That one's great. I thought I had added it as a favorite, but I guess I forgot to. I will now :) |
Thanks! ;-) |
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08/01/2006 03:46:05 PM · #22 |
This is both centered and not-centered, I think it works:
Robt.
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08/01/2006 03:47:12 PM · #23 |
A centered composition is usually less dynamic but sometimes with a dynamic subject it works.
See the whole Farnborough Air Show 2006 Collection!
Message edited by author 2006-08-01 15:54:12. |
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08/01/2006 03:49:34 PM · #24 |
Centered on the centerline
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08/01/2006 04:08:35 PM · #25 |
ofcourse it can be a good thing
a strong weapon even
just the same as decentering
every different situation asks to consider both
sometimes even annoy me when people take this choking rule to literally
i think its only meant as a little counterweight to the fact people tend to put a subject in the middle rpobably to make sure its within the frame;)..i dunno
im glad to see people in this thread just proove how thin that 'forbidden centering' statement
here some of mine      
and one with both techniques just like baer_musics fine composition below
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