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Cropping a Photo = Lying?

{democracy:60}

I voted no, because the very act of taking a photo crops everything else that's visible from the vantage point of the photographer in that instance. If cropping is lying, so too would zooming and virtually everything else done to capture a portion of a 3D world on a 2D sensor or piece of film.

P.S. Via kottke.

5 Responses to "Cropping a Photo = Lying?"

  1. The response range is too limited. Cropping could be lying if the photo in question is intentionally cropped as to remove context and change the meaning of the image (positively or negatively).

  2. [quote comment="55449"]The response range is too limited. Cropping could be lying if the photo in question is intentionally cropped as to remove context and change the meaning of the image (positively or negatively).[/quote]

    I don't think so. Again, the very act of taking an image crops things from the frame. Even with a wide-angle lens. Or blurring items (out of focus). Or the angle from which you shoot.

  3. I think it depends on what exactly is being cropped out - but to that end, the difference between framing and cropping is pretty ignorable.

    Cropping in can be lying, in some circumstances, yes. but obviously cropping doesn't automatically = lying.

  4. Usually no, but it depends on intent.

  5. Cropping a photo? Not lying.

    Using a photo of Cheney cutting up a piece of meat (cropped portion of a photo showing his family preparing a meal) to illustrate an article about torture? A rather questionable editorial choice. But the cropping of the photo isn't really a factor.