Another Crop Question

[hmca]

Wondering if this image might be better cropped?  The fireplace is cut off but I thought it added a sense of depth to the image.  Thoughts?





or this....





or something different...

[cats4jan]

Yes, I definitely like the original.

[pontiac1940]

Even thought the hearth is cut off, it does add context. So the original is preferred to my eye. 

[Tpgettys]

Huh, well I think the crop is superior. I find the fireplace a dark distraction. In the cropped version I *want* to look at the details; in the first I don't.

[fotofrank]

Helen, I fell that the image lacks depth do to everything existing in the same amount of light, and I'm not sure where you want me to look in your Image.

I took the liberty to edit and will post if that's allowed.

[hmca]

Aug 17, 2022 0:33:40 GMT fotofrank said:

will post if that's allowed.

Yes, that's what this board was designed for, Frank. Would love to see your edit cause I'm thinking there really isn't a good crop at this point.

[PeteB]

Hi Helen
The image appears to be a photo of a painting, so my second suggestion may not be suitable. But it was fun to try.

First I think a square crop works but only including the outward facing bricks of the hearth. Include a slight vignette to darken the edges and corners.

Second, if you want to try to add depth, you could try the following. A 3x2 ratio crop taking off a small amount (perhaps 50 pixels) from the left. Then High Pass sharpen but, using a mask, only apply the sharpening to the inside of the hearth. On the posted image I used a radius of 4. To go a little further, you could also try slightly blurring the background (the door, coffee pot, stove). I tried Noise>Media at a radius of 3. Again, use a mask to limit the blurring.

Here's my try---it was fun thanks

[hmca]

Aug 17, 2022 1:44:05 GMT PeteB said:

The image appears to be a photo of a painting,

It was created from a photo using Topaz Impression, Pete. I will try your suggestion tomorrow.
Here is the original......



Here's the square as you suggested...

[fotofrank]

My Edit

[hmca]

Liking the suggestions made by Pete to blur the background a bit and Frank's darkened fireplace above, I have attempted to combine both ideas and came up with this.

[PeteB]

Helen 
Another approach

Sharpen the hearth and darken the background

Here is the edit



Again High Pass to selectively sharpen.  On the background (door, wall, coffee pot and stove) I used b&w adjustment layer set to multiply (lowered opacity).  Added a slight vignette to darken th edges.  

[hmca]

That looks good, Pete. My eye is directed toward the washboard and it now seems to address the issue that Frank mentioned about not knowing where to look.
Who would think there would be so many options for this picture?

[hmca]

So I had to try this.....and I guess it's a good example of individual taste....as I have a friend (not on our forum) who is steadfast at preferring the square crop.
But I quite like this.....

[Jim]

Aug 17, 2022 21:07:36 GMT hmca said:

So I had to try this.....and I guess it's a good example of individual taste....as I have a friend (not on our forum) who is steadfast at preferring the square crop.
But I quite like this.....

I like your last one best, Helen.

One other possibility might be to make the scene even more intimate by cropping off a bit of the left side of the washboard tub so both subjects on the sides of the image would balance one another? Just my 2¢ worth.

Maybe like this?

[hmca]

It's a little too tight for me, Jim.......but thanks for sharing your take on this.