How would you crop this? <softball>

[VinnyC01]

So I had my assistant photographer shoot my HS team's softball scrimmage. He had a few nice shots, but this is one of my favorite ... I just want to crop it. It was triple and the third baseman's leg is right where I want to crop.



Would you PS the leg out? or just crop? Advice and ideas wanted ...




Argg ... a little bonus - me coaching ... maybe I should just take photos!




oh boy!!! Get that guy a press pass and get him on the sidelines!

[brmill26]

Excellent photos - looks like a good time on a nice day, Vinny! As for the 1st image, I would go with a crop; cloning out the other person would be almost impossible to do and make it look natural. That's b/c of the complex background (trees) and the part of the person in the background cut off.

So, I would crop it. I would use a 2:3 ratio (standard portrait) and start from the top right corner and bring the box down until the left corner hits the leg. That should be a good starting point, from there you can adjust to get the desired amount of space around the runner. Finally, the reason for that 2:3 ratio is so that you can still print normally - if you don't plan on printing, then feel free to use whatever crop you like.

[OmahaAdam]

Personally, I really like the leg there. It gives a sense of urgency for the base runner as the outfielder in the frame is getting ready to throw the ball to the bag for the tag. I say keep it just like it is. Otherwise, to me, it's just a girl running the bases.

[JETA]

I'd crop it too. First I'd straighten it and then crop. If a little of the leg is still in there I'd just ps it out.

Great shots. I also think it's great you have some of yourself. I was just doing an "about you" on my website and there are almost no photos of me. The only one I could find a 6th grader took for me while our football team was warming up.

[CanonFan]

I have to agree with OmahaAdam - don't crop it. I would try to level the photo, though. I would make the top of the fence level and see what it looks like.

[livin4lax09]

leave the leg. It gives the image a story. If it's not there it's just a picture of a runner. But with it there it gives the runner context, tells the viewer really where she's headed and what she's looking at. But straighten it.