So I know HD DSLR cinema style video is all the rage right now.
But I think the ability of shooting stills in portrait format holds a cool advantage over HD video. And yeah, I realize the irony of a post like this on a blog set-up to display landscape format pics (hence the big white space until I get around to coding the text into that space — ain’t gonna happen tonight though).
Here’s the deal. Movie/video/cinema cameras shoot landscape (horizontal) format. That’s because t.v. and movie screens are set up to display horizontal images. With still photos, there’s the option of creating both portrait (vertical) format or landscape format.
Magazine covers and posters use portrait format. It enables the capture of an entirely different composition and image than shooting in landscape format.
Why does this matter? Because the orientation of a photo affects the viewer perception of that photo. It affects how your eyes scan the photo. In a way, portrait format puts blinders on a viewer and forces them to concentrate on the subject.
Ironically, the replacement of print magazines– ipad etc– has the ability to display landscape or portrait format easily.
I suppose the day will come when all cameras are so high res you can crop anything to a portrait format, but it’s still better (for now) to shoot it right in camera. Well at least until we can all afford 100 MP Hasselblad digital backs!
What’s my point? It’s best for now to vary between landscape and portrait as you shoot but try to understand why you chose one or the other. Do you want to show the surroundings? Do you need a wide shot or one that shows off the top of a swimsuit (like the above image)? I could have shot it landscape but there was a basalt black rock jetty over her left shoulder that I didn’t want attracting the viewer’s eye. Think about things like that as you shoot and decide how to hold your camera. It will dramatically improve your photos!
Photo credits: Ari on the Oregon coast modeling a Moontess swimsuit, photo assistant Thomas Lindsay
