I always use the Rule of Thirds grid when cropping my bird photographs. Lightroom provides several different types of grids for cropping purposes (Golden Spiral, Golden Ratio, etc.) and my default is Thirds. The Thirds grid divides the screen into three columns of the same width and three rows of the same height and shows a white line defining each grid. My goal, whenever possible, is to place the area you want the viewer to look at first on one of the lines that border the center grid – typically centered along the top horizontal line. Sometimes it works best to direct the viewer to look at one of the four corners of the center grid, depending on the angle of the bird.
Nine times out of ten I want the viewer to look at the bird’s eye first; in the other instances I choose another distinguishing feature of the bird to sit on the grid. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out quite so neatly, as in our case study today.
While in the Pierre National Grasslands in South Dakota last year I had several opportunities to get shots of Upland Sandpipers. They love to perch on fence posts and can be approached quite closely in the car. Below are three versions of the same shot, each cropped a bit differently (I darkened the exposure of the bird in each case so it is easier to see the white grid lines). Which one do you prefer?
In Crop A the eye has been centered along the top grid line of the center grid. I didn’t leave much of the post in the crop so the viewer isn’t distracted.
A.
In Crop B the eye is still centered on the top horizontal grid line and the bottom grid line is just beneath the body – almost all of the bird is enclosed in the center grid, making it very visible. This larger crop also exposes more of the post and barbed wire to add interest to the shot.
B.
In Shot C I basically zoomed in closer to the bird, leaving in the post and barbed wire. But by doing so the eye/head are now above the central grid’s top line. Where are your eyes drawn to when you first look at this shot? It this crop OK to NOT have any distinguishing feature of the bird on any of the lines defining the center grid?
C.
GreatBirdPics members are encouraged to write their response in the Comments section of this post, or reply to the email. Your responses will be tallied and shared next Wednesday.
If you enjoy seeing beautiful pictures of birds from around the world and reading about them Click Here to sign up for our mailing list. Members can post their own GreatBirdPics and learn more about bird photography techniques.