Question

This task is describe the difference between framing an image and cropping an image.

Discussion

I think that the difference between the two concepts lies in the time that the action is being taken and therefore the range of things available to the photographer to control

Framing –takes places at the time the image is being captured.  At this time, the choice available are essentially infinite.  To name but a few, and assuming the photographer is aiming to capture a subject, the choices include choosing:

• To move backwards, forwards or sideways to change the perspective on the subject for compositional purposes
• to create flat image or an image with depth
• the distance from the key subject (and therefore the image seen behind and around the subject)
• the length of lens
• the desired depth of field
• the orientation of image

Cropping – takes place when editing a captured image, meaning that the image itself is already fixed.  When cropping the editor can choose:

• to remove sections from aroind the edge of an image to remove unwanted aspects of the image or to heighten the focus on the core subject
• to change the orientation of the image if there is sufficient image space to drop a large section off the image.

Conclusion

The two lists above illustrate that framing provides far greater control than cropping.  I have never taken the time to think of these two lists as two separate activities but doing so emphasises the importance of spending as much time, in fact more time, on framing an image as the time that is spent editing an image and perhaps cropping it.