Lens-Artists Challenge #385: Unusual Crop
Photography rules can help create a balanced photo. However, the old saying that rules are written to be broken should be kept in mind if a photographer wants to blur the lines and show creativity. This week, Ritva challenges us “to deliberately defy traditional framing conventions.” She says, “cropping stands as one of the most potent yet frequently underutilized compositional elements in photography.” Her post shows excellent examples that will spark your own creativity.
In the featured image above, I took advantage of a hanging globe we have on our patio. The globe by itself is commonplace. For this image, however, I intentionally photographed half the globe against a blue sky. It was a deliberate compositional approach I used to create an abstract image that prompted viewers to look closely at the globe’s details. Here are other examples of different or unusual crops.
By shooting this Annual Bastard Cabbage (Rapistrum rugosum) flower from a top perspective and using a shallow depth of field, I created the illusion that the flower was floating in thin air. I tried a total black background in editing, but chose this version to give a soft glimpse of the ground. Incidentally, this flower is a highly invasive, fast-growing winter annual herb found in Texas.
This was another intentional visualization I had when I created this ICM image. Taking advantage of the minimalist color palette in winter, I wanted to photograph trees that seemed to be lifting from the ground. This natural monochrome proved ideal. Although a square crop is not unusual, it creates an unusual image in this scenario.
Again, using a shallow depth of field with my macro lens, I photographed these dry Texas Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) seeds. To create the image, I photographed the plant from a low angle against the blue sky. The macro view enhances the details and provides viewers with a new perspective our eyes do not normally see.
Blame this one on my passion for time travel and sci-fi movies. A couple of days ago, I went to San Gabriel Park’s Katy Crossing trail to photograph wildlife. In just over an hour, I captured 11 different wildlife species. To create this unusual view, I rotated the image ninety degrees counterclockwise. What you are looking at is a Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) duck diving for food. With this unusual orientation, I see the San Gabriel River as a wall, with the duck entering another dimension.
Finally, using a minimalist image leads to creating stronger images. The viewer focuses on the details of the leaves and seeds, undistracted by anything else. The empty space is a powerful tool for unusual crops in photography. I also converted the image to monochrome to emphasize the texture.
Last week, your astonishing photos were beautiful. Your responses to Beth’s challenge were eye-opening. I hope you will join Ritva’s challenge, too. Please don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts to help people find your wonderful challenge entries.
Next week, Patti will feature a new challenge. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in to find out more about the challenge then. Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history. If you don’t want to miss any future challenges, please consider subscribing to the team members’ websites. Here they are:
- Tina of Travels and Trifles.
- Patti of P.A. Moed.
- Ann-Christine of Leya.
- John of Journeys with Johnbo.
- Anne of Slow Shutter Speed.
- Sofia of Photographias.
- Egídio of Through Brazilian Eyes.
- Ritva of Ritva Sillanmäki Photography.
- Beth of Wandering Dawgs.
That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you may also be interested in others featuring Abstracts, Annual Bastard Cabbage, Katy Crossing, Lens-Artists, Macros, Northern Shoveler, Parks, San Gabriel Park, Texas, Texas Red Yucca, Wildflowers, and Wildlife. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
Discover more from Through Brazilian Eyes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leya
A super answer to the challenge – very creative! I must chime in with the duck going into another dimension – you did!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much. I appreciate your feedback.
Lindy Le Coq
These are all stunning photos. I especially like the duck shot. I played with that orientation with my header shot!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks a bunch, Lindy.
restlessjo
Great responses to this challenge, Egidio. It just takes a bit of thought. I love the red yucca and, of course, the duck and your compelling Header shot xx
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for you caring words. I appreciate your feedback.
Pamela Zmija Photography
Egidio what a wonderful collection, I really love that duck one – so creatively well done!!! Beautiful
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for your compliment, Pam.
Albatz Travel Adventures
Love your duck entering another dimension – it’s an interesting twist on cropping!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Elizabeth. It was a tough challenge. When I went out to get new shots for it, I thought the duck would be a good candidate.
Sofia Alves
I think the duck is getting a lot of love because you were so incredibly smart with your idea, Egídio. Truly thinking outside the box! I also love the last one, it should get more attention 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Sofia. I appreciate your kindness. I think in that last shot, I was trying to channel you. 🙂
Sofia Alves
😀
Pamela Zmija Photography
That last one is great! As is the one above The Rapture, love that one!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, again. It’s fun looking for compositions with a crop in mind.
Sofia Alves
🙂
sandyjwhite
The duck shot is so cool!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Sandy. Glad you liked it. It’s everyone’s favorite.
Ludwig
A delightful variety. My take is a bit more on one topic. https://cafeludwig.com/2026/02/the-decisive-crop/
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Ludwig. I like to keep my post in one topic, too, but the best I could here was to focus on Nature.
Tra Italia e Finlandia
Tutte foto molto creative. La foto dell’anatra nel fiume è la mia preferita. 👏
Egidio Leitao
Quella foto dell’anatra è la preferita di tutti. Grazie.
Leanne Cole
You have approached this differently too, I love what you have done Egidio.
Leanne Cole
I’m sorry Egidio, I thought was subscribed all this time.
Egidio Leitao
No need to apologize. I think you were subscribed, too. Maybe WP just played us both.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the feedback, Leanne. It was a tough challenge, especially because I went out to get new photos. So, I had to think about cropping instead of simply shooting what I like.
aekshots
Nice examples for this challenge Egidio. Love the duck shot 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Andy. That duck is getting a lot of feedback.
Steve Schwartzman
The last picture looks like poverty weed (Baccharis neglecta).
Egidio Leitao
It might be. Next time I go to that park, I’ll get a full photo of the plant to see what iNat says.
Steve Hyde
Some great, unusual crops here Egidio 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Steve.
Toonsarah
Oh, i love that Northern Shoveler shot! I had no idea what it was until I read your explanation, then suddenly it was completely obvious!
Egídio
Thank you, Sarah. That photo is becoming everyone’s favorite.
klara
love your duck entering another dimension!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the feedback, Klara.
Wandering Dawgs
Egidio, you wowed me with every one of these images. My favorite is Into another Dimension.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks so much, Beth. I think the duck is the big winner and everyone’s favorite.
Anita
Wonderful examples of how unusual crops can transform a scene Egidio. Your Shoveler diving shot is my absolute favorite, such a striking and imaginative perspective. It really stands out.
This is truly an exciting and creative challenge, maybe I’ll participate with some photos from Cyprus.☺️
Egidio Leitao
Thanks a million, Anita. The duck seems to be everyone’s photo. I’d love to see your photos if you’re inclined to join in.
Joe and Julie
That photo of the northern shoveler is amazing!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, J&J
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
These are great way to interpret the challenge, duck diving for food is my favorite. And I like your opening image. And that you took new photos is highly appreciated by me.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for making me think outside the box. As I wrote Tina, when I’m photographing, I don’t think of rules. Your challenge made me take time to compose with the challenge in mind.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
I think it good to keep certain composition rules in mind, but also to think outside them and go with instinct.
Egidio Leitao
I think we have those rules ingrained in our brains. It’s hard to let go except when somethings “screams” to be photographed differently.
Hammad Rais
The another dimension really took me to another dimension 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Hope you enjoyed the trip. Thanks.
Anne Sandler
Great response for this challenge. I love the duck image. It leaves a lot to the imagination.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Anne. Just a simple rotation changed the entire subject perspective.
Tina Schell
Very well done Egidio, your creativity on this one is spot-on! Your Shoveler is marvelous and I loved your half-globe. You definitely rose to the occasion 👏👏👏
Egidio Leitao
Tina, that is very comforting to read. I photograph things I like and don’t think much about the rules. The challenge made me go out and photograph with some parameters in mind. Half of the images were shot specifically for the challenge. Thank you for the feedback.