About two years ago my friends and I tried “goat yoga” for the first time, and if anyone has not had the opportunity to try it out, I highly recommend it! We had a blast and got so many amazing pictures throughout the session. Some of the photos were amazing, some were completely embarrassing (yes, they are on Facebook for the world to see), and some were just blah. The photo that I’ve chosen to crop is one that was just blah – it’s not a bad photo, but I have so many better photos from that occasion. Since it’s not the most amazing goat yoga photo, I thought it might work better as a funny goat expression photo. You would be surprised how many emotions are conveyed in photos of goats…
In this photo, “You goat games on your phone?” by Delanie Ornstein (myself), this goat looks like she’s staring directly at you with an expression that looks a lot like a child asking if you have games on your phone. If this had been one of my favorite photos from goat yoga, I would not have felt comfortable cropping it because the crop takes away from the viewer’s awareness of the event. Since it was one of the less interesting photos from that day, I now much prefer this edition for the humor it provides.
Hi Delanie!
What a funny photo you created! I think the addition of the hat and tutu(?) make it even more hilarious.
As you said yourself, the meaning of the photo changes from a photo depicting an event to the expression of the goat. It follows the rule of thirds by having the goat primarily on the left side of the photo. Nothing in the background distracts from the goat being the focal point, which also seems to emphasize its expression and persistence in playing those mobile games haha.
As a small technical comment, I believe we were meant to create a CC license for the photo. Just mentioning to keep an eye out for future media labs! Great post.
In the original, the goat is the focus and is centered, but the shadows on the right add an interesting dimension. The crop removes all context and completely shifts meaning. First you have goat yoga, then the crop introduces you to a birthday goat. The context of the crop leaves the viewer to use their imagination and the background would not bind them in any way. It would be a bit challenging to crop this photo differently. I would have liked to see the shadow included because it does add something special to the photo, but with the photo size I do not think that would have been possible.
Hi Delanie,
Your decision to crop the photo showcases a thoughtful and creative approach. It’s interesting how an image, which may not have stood out in the broader context of your collection, transformed into a humorous goat expression. The analogy of the goat resembling a child asking about games on a phone adds a playful and relatable touch to the image. Considering the humor and storytelling aspect you wanted to emphasize in the photo, zooming in closer on the goat’s facial features such as the eyes, mouth, and any distinctive features would convey the humor you’ve described.
Dear Delanie
I never heard in my life about “goat yoga” or yogoat sessions haha. Its hilarious and I will definitely try it if i get a chance!
So, the cropped picture really brings out the goat’s funny side, making it stand out. With the focus just on the goat, it’s like it’s making a cheeky face at the camera, asking, “Got any games?” It’s a clever crop that takes the photo from just okay to a great laugh.
By zooming in and focusing solely on the goat’s face, you’ve captured a charming expression that resonates with us on an emotional level. It’s a creative use of cropping, that shifts the context from a broader activity to a moment that feels more intimate and engaging. This edit shows how a simple change in composition can tell a whole new story, one that might be more memorable and impactful for its audience. To make the post funnier, I would be placing first the zoomed goat photo and then the goat with you practicing yoga, but it’s very fun and creative anyway!