This picture was taken during my trip to Costa Rica. I was looking out from the balcony of my Airbnb and spotted this little guy hanging out on the tree. I took out my camera and snapped a pic. The only problem was my camera’s zoom only goes so far. That is why in the original picture the monkey is surrounded by a hundred leaves, and you can barely see him and make out certain details. For the cropping of this picture, I went in as close as possible without cropping out part of the monkey’s body. I really wanted to capture the details of the monkey’s face and see the slight markings it has. I cropped the picture to emphasize the focal point, which in this instance is the monkey’s face. The monkey was moving along the branch, so I made sure to leave space in front of it. Following the rule of thirds, I adjusted it to have his eyes aligned with the right corner in the grid. The image now, with its new crop, creates the perfect picture.
Hi Kaleah,
Great photo you shot in Costa Rica! I totally agree that the crop is spot-on—you can really see the monkey’s expression now. By zooming in, you shift the focus from the bigger scene to the monkey’s face, which makes the image feel more personal and intimate. Originally, the photo might’ve shown the monkey as part of its surroundings, but with the crop, it’s all about the monkey itself, letting the viewer connect with it on a deeper level. The way you isolated the subject gives it more presence, making it feel like we’re right there with the monkey. You could’ve also kept more of the background to emphasize its environment, or tried a vertical crop to show the movement along the branch. I wonder how it would change if the monkey was off-center and you left more space in front of it? That could add a sense of movement and make the photo feel even more dynamic! Overall, the picture crop was great, as it really brings out the best in the subject.
Hello Kalaeh,
Sounds like you had a fun trip! I can tell from the confusion on the monkey’s face he certainly was not expecting to be photographed haha. I think this is an excellent shot in general, and the panned-in version puts the star of the photo into light while giving him much more character. The leaves also do a great job of adding a sense of mystery. Well done Kaleah!
Hey Kalaeh,
That sounds like an incredible experience! It’s amazing how a simple moment like spotting a monkey from a balcony can turn into such a great photo opportunity. Your cropping choices really show a thoughtful approach to composition, especially with the rule of thirds and leaving space for movement. Even with the challenge of limited zoom, you managed to highlight the monkey’s unique features. I’m curious what type of camera you used to capture this moment? Thank you for sharing with us!