Composition Disaster

[Eric Patdu]

Hello Sir Romy,

I hope you will indulge me in another photo critique.

I have a photo that I don't know how to crop. I was so near this woodpecker that it filled up the frame.

I would like your suggestion on how to properly present this image considering that the composition is a disaster. How do I crop this one?

Unprocessed converted to JPG from RAW




Thanks in advance.

[Romy Ocon]

Sorry, I just noticed this post now, Eric.

Great pose, detail and lighting!

The tip of the bill is so close to the edge of the frame that we don't have many cropping choices. As I see it, there might be two possible composition approaches.

1. I'd clone out the last fence wood at the left and convert it to its background color. I'll then add canvas to the left. This is major digital surgery, but doable. Downside is the alteration is so major that I personally wouldn't do it, as the photo already becomes a digital art.

2. The second choice is to add a black border all around the frame. As shot, the subject placement is already well balanced, it's just that the claws and the bill are too close to the edge. Adding borders will give an illusion of extra canvas all around, without altering the frame itself. The width of the border is dependent on individual taste, and here's what I might do if the photo were mine.

[Eric Patdu]

Thanks Sir Romy. Putting a black border sure improves its composition. I thought you're gonna crop it with a close-up headshot but your solution is the best!

Thanks a lot again!