Comments on: What Format do you shoot in? Landscape or Portrait?

By: L Flavell

L Flavell — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:29:01 +0000

Why we, as photographers, even allowed a computer software company (Microsoft) to change the names of the orientation of photograph aspect ratios, I will never know. Why did Adobe adopt the ‘portrait/landscape’ terminology rather than just us what we have been using for hundreds of years, vertical/horizontal. The entire photographic industry should protest the use of the terms as they have been applied to digital media anyway and demand that this nonsensical use of the terms be reversed.

Why should it have been harder to learn to use the normal terminology for vertical and horizontal than these new, non-accurate, improperly applied terms anyway? It is just confusing to the novice photographer.

The terms portrait and landscape do not even mean vertical and horizontal.

No, ‘landscape’ is not the ONLY way you can shoot a landscape with a camera AND shooting a landscape as a vertical is not ‘breaking any rules’ because the misuse of this term should not imply that it is the orientation that a landscape MUST be photographed. There are some fantastic tall vertical lansacape photographs made with wide view cameras that are incredible.

Orientation of the aspect ratio of a photograph should be according to compositional framing, not the application of a missapplied term.

By: W. Oursl

W. Oursl — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:17:56 +0000

although I do use both I tend to take Portrait oriented pictures as I use singled out flowers for a medium. Landscape isn’t often a good option.

By: Deanna

Deanna — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:42:51 +0000

I personally prefer portrait over landscape. For my work, I have to take a balance of both portrait and landscape. But when it comes to personal preference, I like to take close-up pictures of people, and I have come across good shots with potrait.

By: Gizelle

Gizelle — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:52:56 +0000

Landscape for landscapes…portrait for portraits, landscape for 3 people in a portrait, portrait for tall trees, waterfalls…etc. =)

By: Patty in IN

Patty in IN — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:02:49 +0000

I use both. It really depends on what I’m trying to capture. I use horizonal a lot. I think I do that basically because that’s a normal feel for holding my camera. But in the wedding that I shot this weekend, I used vertical to capture their attire. Her dress was beautiful and I knew she would want to have a picture of it later.
I have Pentax *ist.

By: Kathy in NH

Kathy in NH — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:53:21 +0000

It really depends on the subject I am shooting. I tend to pretty much shoot both. Some subjects I will shoot both ways and then determine which I like better when I fiew it on the screen.

By: Melanie Halton

Melanie Halton — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:47:40 +0000

Nearly always vertical! My hubby pays out on me as he always shoots horizontally. I like to take a lot of photos of the kids and it just looks better in vertical – don’t know why but you can get right in close and see all the detail in vertical, and my Canon Powershot S3 IS takes a beautiful vertical portrait phot.

The only time I tend to shoot horizontally is for landscape, and I have to think about it!

By: Taavi

Taavi — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:33:16 +0000

Mostly Portrait. (I shoot both, but end up choosing portrait)

By: khoa

khoa — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 00:20:26 +0000

I prefer landscapes, because it feels more “standard.” Portrait orientation can be a little awkward to handle sometimes, as far as viewing goes.

But ultimately, when I’m shooting, I consciously pick one that will yield the best composition.

By: Puplet

Puplet — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 21:26:56 +0000

More verticals since I got a vertical grip..