Cropping in post-processing acceptable or not?

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Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog where I share my passion for street photography and tips on how to improve your skills. Today I want to talk about a topic that is often debated among street photographers: is cropping in post-processing acceptable or not?

Some people might argue that cropping in post-processing is cheating, that it alters the original composition and vision of the photographer, and that it shows a lack of skill and planning. They might say that a true street photographer should be able to capture the decisive moment with the right framing and perspective, without relying on editing software to fix their mistakes.

Others might disagree and say that cropping in post-processing is a creative tool, that it allows the photographer to enhance their images and express their artistic vision, and that it shows a willingness to experiment and learn. They might say that a true street photographer should be open to new possibilities and techniques, without being constrained by rigid rules and dogmas.

So, who is right and who is wrong? Well, in my opinion, there is no definitive answer to this question. Street photography is a form of art, and art is subjective. What works for one photographer might not work for another. What appeals to one audience might not appeal to another. What matters is that you are happy with your images and that they reflect your personal style and message.

Personally, I don’t have a problem with cropping in post-processing, as long as it doesn’t change the essence and meaning of the image. Sometimes I crop my images to remove distracting elements, to improve the balance and harmony of the composition, or to emphasize the main subject or emotion. Sometimes I don’t crop my images at all, because I like them as they are. It depends on each image and what I want to achieve with it.

I think that cropping in post-processing is acceptable in street photography, as long as it is done with intention and purpose, not with laziness and carelessness. I think that cropping in post-processing is a skill that can be learned and improved, not a shortcut that can be abused and overused. I think that cropping in post-processing is a matter of personal preference and taste, not a matter of right or wrong.

What do you think? Do you crop your images in post-processing or not? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to subscribe to my blog for more street photography content. Thanks for reading and happy shooting!

Why do some photographers get noticed and others don’t.

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Why do some photographers get noticed and others don’t. What is the trick?

This is a question that many aspiring photographers ask themselves, and there is no easy answer. Photography is a creative field, and different people have different tastes and preferences. What appeals to one person may not appeal to another. However, there are some general tips that can help you improve your chances of getting noticed as a photographer.

Find your niche. Don’t try to copy what others are doing, but instead focus on what makes you unique and passionate. What kind of photography do you enjoy the most? What kind of stories do you want to tell with your images? What kind of style and mood do you want to create? By finding your niche, you can develop your own voice and vision as a photographer, and attract people who share your interests and values.
Be consistent. Once you find your niche, stick to it and be consistent in your work. This doesn’t mean you can’t experiment or try new things, but it does mean you should have a clear direction and purpose for your photography. Consistency helps you build your brand and reputation and also helps you grow as a photographer. People will recognize your work and trust your quality.
Be visible. If you want to get noticed, you need to put yourself out there and show your work to the world. There are many platforms and channels where you can showcase your photography, such as social media, websites, blogs, magazines, galleries, contests, etc. Choose the ones that suit your goals and audience, and be active and engaging. Share your work regularly, but also interact with other photographers and potential clients. Give feedback, ask for feedback, join communities, network, collaborate, etc. The more visible you are, the more opportunities you will have.
Be persistent. Getting noticed as a photographer is not easy, and it takes time and effort. You will face challenges, rejections, criticisms, and competition along the way. Don’t let that discourage you or stop you from pursuing your passion. Keep learning, improving, creating, and sharing your work. Keep trying new things and reaching out to new people. Keep believing in yourself and your vision. Eventually, you will find your audience and your success.

Making Black and white images

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One of my favourite hobbies is creating black-and-white images. I enjoy the process of transforming a colourful picture into a monochrome one, using different techniques and tools. I find that black and white images have a unique aesthetic and mood, that can convey emotions and messages more effectively than color. I also like the challenge of working with shades of grey, contrast, and texture, to create a balanced and harmonious composition. Black and white images are timeless and classic, and they can capture the essence and beauty of any subject.

One of the most powerful ways to create a stunning black-and-white image is to use contrast and tones effectively. Contrast is the difference between light and dark areas in an image, and tones are the shades of grey that make up the image. By manipulating contrast and tones, you can enhance the mood, drama, and emotion of your image, as well as draw attention to the main subject and create a sense of depth. But contrast and tones alone are not enough to make a black-and-white image work. You also need good content, which means a strong composition, a clear message, and an interesting story. Content is what gives meaning and purpose to your image, and what makes it stand out from the crowd. Without good content, contrast and tones will not have much impact. Therefore, when you are creating a black-and-white image, you should always consider both the technical and the artistic aspects of your work, and use contrast and tones to enhance your content, not to replace it.

Making a black-and-white image from a digital colour image can be a creative way to highlight the shapes, textures and contrasts in your photos. However, not all colour images look good in black and white. You need to consider some factors before converting your images, such as the tonal range, the subject matter and the mood you want to convey.

One of the easiest ways to convert a colour image to black and white is to use an adjustment layer in Photoshop or a similar photo editing software. An adjustment layer allows you to apply a grayscale conversion without affecting the original image. You can also fine-tune the results by adjusting the brightness and contrast of different colours in your image.

To create a black-and-white adjustment layer in Photoshop, follow these steps:

Open your colour image in Photoshop.
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Black & White. Name the layer and click OK.
Photoshop will apply a default grayscale conversion to your image. You can see the effect in the Layers panel and on the canvas.
To adjust the grayscale conversion, go to the Properties panel and use the sliders to change the brightness of different colours in your image. For example, you can drag the Red slider to the left to darken the red areas or drag it to the right to lighten them.
You can also use the Auto button to let Photoshop choose the best grayscale mix for your image, or use the Preset menu to select a predefined grayscale mix.
If you want to add a tint to your black and white image, check the Tint box and click on the colour swatch to choose a tint colour.
When you are happy with your black-and-white image, save it as a new file or export it as you wish.

By using an adjustment layer, you can easily convert your colour image to black and white and make it pop with some simple adjustments.

How to improve your photography

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Photography is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice, patience and passion. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned photographer, there are always ways to take your photos to the next level. Here are some tips on how to improve your photography and capture stunning images.

Learn the basics of exposure. Exposure is the amount of light that reaches your camera sensor and determines how bright or dark your photo is. Exposure is controlled by three factors: aperture, shutter speed and ISO. The aperture is the size of the opening in your lens that lets in light. Shutter speed is the length of time that your camera shutter stays open to expose the sensor. ISO is the sensitivity of your sensor to light. By adjusting these three factors, you can achieve different effects and creative results in your photos.
Understand the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a simple but effective composition technique that helps you create balanced and interesting photos. Imagine dividing your frame into nine equal parts with two horizontal and two vertical lines. The rule of thirds suggests that you place your main subject or point of interest along one of these lines or at one of their intersections. This way, you avoid placing your subject in the centre of the frame, which can make your photo look static and boring.
Experiment with different perspectives. One of the easiest ways to improve your photography is to change your point of view and try different angles and perspectives. Instead of taking photos from eye level, try shooting from above, below, behind, beside or close to your subject. This can create a sense of depth, drama, intimacy or surprise in your photos and make them more engaging and unique.
Use natural light. Natural light is one of the best sources of illumination for photography, as it can create beautiful colours, shadows, contrasts and moods in your photos. The quality and direction of natural light can vary depending on the time of day, weather and season, so you need to pay attention to how it affects your subject and scene. Generally, the golden hour (the hour after sunrise and before sunset) and the blue hour (the hour before sunrise and after sunset) are considered the best times for photography, as they produce soft, warm and flattering light.
Edit your photos. Editing your photos can enhance their appearance and correct any flaws or mistakes that you made while shooting. You can use various software or apps to edit your photos on your computer or smartphone. Some of the basic editing tools that you can use are cropping, rotating, adjusting brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness, white balance and colour temperature. You can also apply filters or presets to give your photos a certain style or mood.

These are only some of the tips on how to improve your photography and take better photos. Remember that photography is a fun and rewarding hobby that allows you to express yourself creatively and capture memorable moments. Keep practising, learning and experimenting with your camera and you will soon see improvement in your skills and results.

Loading the X Pro3 with FILM thanks OMAR

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Making Images

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Why do you make images? Personally, they help me improve my days and I never really get bored with seeing things happening. I try to capture the essence of what is going on in my shots, sometimes I am successful, sometimes not but it keeps me sane.

Black and White my first love.

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My beginnings in photography were in taking and making pictures using black and white film, developing and printing them in the darkroom.

Using film is part of my past and generally, now I used my digital images, taken mainly in colour and convert them to Monochrome using a computer.

Using colour digital images, you still have to be able to see what an image will look like as a mono image, some images just do not work in black and white.

Five Reasons To Use Auto-ISO — One Camera One Lens

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When I’m going out with the camera, I want to make sure I get the best shots possible. This means taking away as many distractions from the camera as I can, but still retaining all the control I need to get those photos. Over the years I’ve learned that auto-ISO is your friend, and here […]
Five Reasons To Use Auto-ISO — One Camera One Lens

Monochrome with a standard RGB camera.

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The possibilities are endless.

With good post-processing or even processing in the camera such as in Fujifilm bodies, making high quality monochrome images, (maybe not in the league of dedicated mono sensors as in the Leica) but more than enough quality for the average pro/hobbyist.

Freezing TIME

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Making a photograph is about freezing a moment, and fraction of a moment, in time that will never happen again. That moment should mean something if it, IMO, is to be a successful picture.