Properly putting body parts out of frame?

<p>My last portrait session I wanted to get the shots and be able to properly cut out limbs. Some have told me "you should always do X and never do Y". The thing I want to be able to do is do it properly if it can be done. So below are a couple shots where I consciously cropped or framed out a part here or there trying to make it work. Do they work for you the viewer? More importantly would a shot where an elbow or top of the head is cut off ever work for you? To me the first shot below seems to be ok, but I can see where it might be distracting to others. Any feedback or if you have your own examples, I'd love to hear or see them.</p>

<p>The rest of her images here just in case anyone cares to check them: http://novophotography.wordpress.com/2010/08/24/katia-seidametova-theyre-not-done-yet/</p>

<p>A - Framed out elbows, they were bothering me when I had them fully framed within the shot, my eye kept going right to them.<br>

<img src="http://images29.fotki.com/v1013/photos/7/101317/9009433/KatiaSeidametova201008088-vi.jpg" alt="" width="531" height="800" /></p>

<p>B - Framed the shot with the elbow out rather than being at the very edge<br>

<img src="http://images116.fotki.com/v716/photos/7/101317/9009433/KatiaSeidametova2010080829-vi.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="531" /></p>

<p>C - Top of the head and shoulder here, the face seems to be framed nicely so this seems ok to me.<br>

<img src="http://images32.fotki.com/v1048/photos/7/101317/9009433/KatiaSeidametova2010080817-vi.jpg" alt="" width="531" height="800" /></p>

http://images29.fotki.com/v1013/photos/7/101317/9009433/KatiaSeidametova201008088-vi.jpg

<p>Wow - good question - I was just thinking about this the other day while trying to crop out a "difficult" area from a shot.</p>

<p>I don't know the answer though :(, but I have heard that you should not crop at joints, but rather somewhere through limbs is OK. But what about when arms are akimbo - is it OK to crop the elbows off? Does it have to be even? I sometimes crop through a forehead - it can bring more emphasis to the eyes.</p>

<p>I guess someone who has studied art may be able to provide some guidelines? But ultimately its whatever you, as the creator of the image, decide to do.</p>

<p>I can't remember where I read this, but here's what I recall...</p>

<p>The author said with regard to this rule of composition...(sic)<br>

<br />"Limbs should be clearly in frame, or clearly cut. Avoid having limbs just touching the edge of the photo."</p>

<p>The author also said (sic) - "Learn and master these rules of composition. Once you have mastered them, break them."</p>

<p>I am just a beginner, so take anything I say with a grain of salt. Plus I think I read it in a book about landscape photography. Which is really puzzling, but I think it still applies.</p>

 

Michael I do not have a proper response for you. I do find images with wrists and/or foot or ankles cut off should be thrown away.

 

The third (color) image does not cause any distractions to me. First black & white might work if the left hand was completely intact, and/or if something else were going on.

 

Second images is the most distracting for cut off bent arm is a subject in itself. Now I notice the vertical black line too, darn.

<p>I found that if you <strong>don't</strong> crop at or near the joints, you will get a better looking crop. Better to crop at mid-arm or mid leg, mid hand and such. Cropping right at the waist is also not the most attractive crop. Try it and see if it helps your images. The first two I think would benefit. The last one just needs the bottom brought up a bit to my eye. I like to keep the eyes around the one third point in a frame, pretty standard approach but there are really no hard and fast rules, just guidelines.</p>

<p>The problem with the elbows in the first two images are the triangles established that point to the edges: "This Way Out." It's less of a problem in the first picture because the arms are light in tone like the background and the close cropping adds to the sense of oppression. The image loses cohesion because the background merges with the white surround and could probably use a frame. You don't have a problem with the cropping in your final example, but the flower is intrusive. It doesn't harmonize well with the skin tones and could be better placed.<br /> The first rule of composition is that there aren't any rules. An image has functionality and the graphic elements in it should be arranged to support that functionality. It's that simple, really.</p>

<p>A good study practice is to pick up a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine, or a pinup callendar, and study those pics to see what's cropped and where and see what you find pleasing.</p>

<p>I agree that right at the joints seems to be a no-no. It's usually mid-thigh, or at the shin. Usually never at the waist, but at about the sternum. Arms are usually done at the bicep, I don't think I've seen one cut off at the forearm but I could be mistaken. Elbows are usually always left in the shot for a pic like the first one you posted, unless you cropped in tighter. I'd say for that one, crop at about her wrist/bicep level of her right arm, and across her sternum and see if you like that better. If you cut off the fore head I think there should definitely be strong eye contact otherwise the viewer's eyes may wander.</p>

<ol>

<li>Doesn't work for me, at all. Too close for the focal length, the enlarged forehead and elbows would annoy me even if they weren't cut. Cutting through the swollen elbows makes it just scream at me. (and, whatever is going on with the shadow on the left arm is also grabbing the eye). The way the cut lines runs right through the joint is distracting, too. I like the harsh, chalked out version of Rembrandt light, though. Nicely edgy. If you brought the elbows back a little, they'd be even more out of frame, but the joint wouldn't be cut, and the shadow would probably go away. So, either more in frame, or more out of frame.</li>

<li>She's right of center, with a huge, negative space sucking her back to the left. Why? And that extra sprig of hair sticking out under her armpit. I can hear Alan Lowy yelling at me ;)</li>

<li>I like it. The shoulder is fine, very natural. I'd have dropped the flower 1/2 inch (neat shadow under the nose cut by the flower), and shopped out one set of catchlights. For shots that are obviously indoors, I have no problem with multiple catchlights (humans have been living indoors for 25+ generations, it's in the collective unconscious by now, and rooms often have more than one window) but we know that outdoors, there's only one sun.</li>

</ol>