When should we shoot vertical and when should we shoot horizontal? And what visual-psychological effects do either have?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Horizontal photos better for negative space?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-5-1.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-6-1.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-7-1.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nTo place my subject on the extreme left of the frame — perhaps this is better to emphasize negative space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Figure it out while you’re shooting <\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-portrait-mexico-city-by-cindy-1-scaled.jpg?resize=2560%2C1707&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-portrait-mexico-city-by-cindy-2-scaled.jpg?resize=2560%2C1707&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-portrait-mexico-city-by-cindy-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1707%2C2560&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-portrait-mexico-city-by-cindy-4-scaled.jpg?resize=1707%2C2560&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-portrait-mexico-city-by-cindy-5-scaled.jpg?resize=1707%2C2560&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nSome portraits Cindy shot of me– some horizontal, some vertical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps we shouldn’t think too much about horizontal vs vertical (from an intellectual perspective). Maybe when we see an interesting scene, we should just shoot both then figure out later which works better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Layered photos work better as horizontal photos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Layers](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-64.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&ssl=1\")
Layers in Mexico City, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you want to shoot layers<\/a>, then perhaps horizontal compositions are better. <\/p>\n\n\n\nCapturing more of the scene<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Also when shooting horizontally, you capture more of a scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-43.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nVertical photos to eliminate clutter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Street](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/F7848F36-14B4-41E4-A748-51F8B6FC6526-3000x4529.jpeg?resize=3000%2C4529&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PORTRAITS1-1325x2000.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PORTRAITS7-1325x2000.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PORTRAITS6.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PORTRAITS3-1325x2000.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PORTRAITS2.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"Street](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/8C87C0A5-39C6-448A-9DCD-1CB6D145A775-1325x2000.jpeg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/mcdonalds-portrait-1.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PORTRAITS8.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe upside of shooting vertical photos:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can get closer to your subject (portrait) and fill the frame, and eliminate clutter.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Shooting horizontally and getting really close makes for more mysterious images<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-38.jpg?resize=2500%2C1667&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-39.jpg?resize=1667%2C2500&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nI generally find it more difficult to frame a scene horizontally when you get really close to a subject. Thus in this sense, an idea is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a “creative constraint”, shoot all your photos horizontally, and get very close to your subjects. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Mark Cohen<\/a> does this well in his street photography by cutting off the heads and limbs of his subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHorizontals ideal for laptop screens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Also if you’re doing a photography project<\/a>, it does often help to have all the photos in the project all horizontal. Why? Considering most of our laptop screens and monitors are horizontal, horizontal photos better fit our screens as “full screen”.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is what I did in my SUITS<\/a> project: shot all the photos as horizontal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SUITS-BY-ERIC-KIM2.jpg?resize=1545%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SUITS-BY-ERIC-KIM3-2000x1326.jpg?resize=2000%2C1326&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"Film](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SUITS-BY-ERIC-KIM6-2000x1327.jpg?resize=2000%2C1327&ssl=1\")
Film Leica, 35mm, Kodak Portra 400, flash.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SUITS-BY-ERIC-KIM5-2000x1327.jpg?resize=2000%2C1327&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/eric-kim-suits-13-2.jpg?resize=2000%2C1327&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/eric-kim-suits-13.jpg?resize=2000%2C1327&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/eric-kim-suits-6.jpg?resize=2000%2C1327&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SUITS-BY-ERIC-KIM10.jpg?resize=1545%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SUITS-BY-ERIC-KIM12-2000x1325.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/suits-eric-kim-street-photography-project-32.jpg?resize=1545%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Suits-4.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/suits-golden-hand-cuffs.jpg?resize=780%2C525&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nHow about smartphones?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Another thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Snapchat is “vertical video”. Why? Because it is smartphone-first.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/street-portrait-berkeley-eric-kim-street-photograpy-black-and-white-Monochrome-25-1-1325x2000-1.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE10-flex-muscle-scaled.jpg?resize=1696%2C2560&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/0-eric-kim-street-photography-side-tattoo-portrait-0.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/black-and-white-street-portraits-eric-kim11-1000x15101490038501.jpg?resize=1000%2C1510&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Black-and-White-Street-Portraits-ERIC-KIM9.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"STREET](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/eric-kim-badass-street-portrait-newport-beach-0014051-800x1208.jpg?resize=800%2C1208&ssl=1\")
STREET PORTRAIT. Newport Beach, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/R0001353-geoff-erickim-street-portrait-sf.jpg?resize=800%2C1208&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Eric-Kim-Street-Photographer-2014-2.jpg?resize=667%2C1000&ssl=1\")
Portrait by Josh White<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_0940.jpg?resize=1024%2C1545&ssl=1\")
London, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/R0000517.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"Gallo](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Gallo-13.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&ssl=1\")
Gallo boxing. Lansing, Michigan 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nThen perhaps if your strategy is to optimize your photos for phones, then perhaps a “vertical-dominant” strategy is ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tiled Galleries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-102.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-96.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-87.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-83.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-72.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-67.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-41.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div>![\"selfie](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-27.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-29.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-18.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-8.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-57.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nMy new favorite discovery and joy is ‘tiled galleries<\/a>‘– a function in WordPress in which it automatically optimizes BOTH your horizontal AND vertical photos in a nice tiled collage.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWith this; it doesn’t matter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-5.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-6.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-7.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>![\"Eric](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eric-kim-mexico-city-2020-ricoh-gr-iii-v2-9.jpg?ssl=1\"\/)
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nPractical ideas:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Screen-Shot-2020-01-10-at-8.54.00-PM-resized-scaled.jpg?resize=2560%2C1460&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- Perhaps for a photo project: shoot it ALL horizontal, or ALL vertical (as a fun creative constraint<\/a>).<\/li>
- If you just wanna shoot freely; shoot both. When you see interesting scenes, keep “working the scene<\/a>” in BOTH vertical and<\/em> horizontal. <\/li>
- Just shoot however you like, and then figure out later how to layout your photos (according to your verticals and horizontals).<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
But ultimately, what is the great joy of photography? Unlike CINEMA<\/a>, we are not slaves to only horizontal-orientation. So my takeaway:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen in doubt, embrace BOTH horizontal and vertical!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
ERIC<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photography 101<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDear friend,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re new to photography, start here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Photography<\/a><\/li>
- Free Photography Bootcamp<\/a><\/li>
- 100 Photography Tips for Beginners<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nNew Photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/000-gif-composition-face-tattoo-eric-kim-small.gif?resize=290%2C416\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- Photography as Discovering Beauty in Unlikely Places<\/a><\/li>
- What is the Secret of Making Great Photographs?<\/a><\/li>
- Why Do You Do Photography?<\/a><\/li>
- You’re an Artist.<\/a><\/li>
- How to Edit Your Photos<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Photography Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/AE8E6BBF-393E-4D11-9CAB-8E2446EBC213-1000x681.jpeg?resize=1000%2C681\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- 15 Tips How to Make More Interesting Photos<\/a><\/li>
- 10 Tips How to Shoot More Photos Everyday<\/a><\/li>
- 7 Tips How to Shoot Surreal Photos<\/a><\/li>
- 10 Tips How to Fill the Frame in Photography<\/a><\/li>
- Look Up! 16 Photography Composition Perspective Tips<\/a><\/li>
- 10 Simple Black and White Photography Tips<\/a><\/li>
- 10 Simple Black and White Photography Tips<\/a><\/li>
- 5 Simple Street Photography Composition Tips<\/a><\/li>
- 5 Simple Street Photography Composition Tips<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nPhotography Articles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Mad](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/AE0F8A3E-E324-4FDA-B70A-E2B71EFB68BD-800x600.jpeg?resize=800%2C600\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- How to Elevate Your Photography to the Next Level<\/a><\/li>
- You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re (Already) a Photographer!<\/a><\/li>
- 7 Tips How to Shoot More Photos<\/a><\/li>
- Everything is Permitted in Photography!<\/a><\/li>
- 20 Dark Tips How to Shoot Shadow Photos<\/a><\/li>
- How to Give a Constructive Critique in Photography<\/a><\/li>
- 15 Tips How to Shoot Better Selfies<\/a><\/li>
- Photography is All a Matter of Perspective<\/a><\/li>
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
To place my subject on the extreme left of the frame — perhaps this is better to emphasize negative space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Figure it out while you’re shooting <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Some portraits Cindy shot of me– some horizontal, some vertical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps we shouldn’t think too much about horizontal vs vertical (from an intellectual perspective). Maybe when we see an interesting scene, we should just shoot both then figure out later which works better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Layered photos work better as horizontal photos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Layers in Mexico City, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n If you want to shoot layers<\/a>, then perhaps horizontal compositions are better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Capturing more of the scene<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Also when shooting horizontally, you capture more of a scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nVertical photos to eliminate clutter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The upside of shooting vertical photos:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can get closer to your subject (portrait) and fill the frame, and eliminate clutter.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Shooting horizontally and getting really close makes for more mysterious images<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
I generally find it more difficult to frame a scene horizontally when you get really close to a subject. Thus in this sense, an idea is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a “creative constraint”, shoot all your photos horizontally, and get very close to your subjects. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Mark Cohen<\/a> does this well in his street photography by cutting off the heads and limbs of his subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Horizontals ideal for laptop screens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Also if you’re doing a photography project<\/a>, it does often help to have all the photos in the project all horizontal. Why? Considering most of our laptop screens and monitors are horizontal, horizontal photos better fit our screens as “full screen”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is what I did in my SUITS<\/a> project: shot all the photos as horizontal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li>
Film Leica, 35mm, Kodak Portra 400, flash.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nHow about smartphones?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Another thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Snapchat is “vertical video”. Why? Because it is smartphone-first.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li>
STREET PORTRAIT. Newport Beach, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li>Portrait by Josh White<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> London, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> <\/figure><\/li>Gallo boxing. Lansing, Michigan 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a> <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nThen perhaps if your strategy is to optimize your photos for phones, then perhaps a “vertical-dominant” strategy is ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tiled Galleries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nMy new favorite discovery and joy is ‘tiled galleries<\/a>‘– a function in WordPress in which it automatically optimizes BOTH your horizontal AND vertical photos in a nice tiled collage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With this; it doesn’t matter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nPractical ideas:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- Perhaps for a photo project: shoot it ALL horizontal, or ALL vertical (as a fun creative constraint<\/a>).<\/li>
- If you just wanna shoot freely; shoot both. When you see interesting scenes, keep “working the scene<\/a>” in BOTH vertical and<\/em> horizontal. <\/li>
- Just shoot however you like, and then figure out later how to layout your photos (according to your verticals and horizontals).<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
But ultimately, what is the great joy of photography? Unlike CINEMA<\/a>, we are not slaves to only horizontal-orientation. So my takeaway:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When in doubt, embrace BOTH horizontal and vertical!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
ERIC<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photography 101<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dear friend,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re new to photography, start here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Photography<\/a><\/li>
- Free Photography Bootcamp<\/a><\/li>
- 100 Photography Tips for Beginners<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nNew Photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- Photography as Discovering Beauty in Unlikely Places<\/a><\/li>
- What is the Secret of Making Great Photographs?<\/a><\/li>
- Why Do You Do Photography?<\/a><\/li>
- You’re an Artist.<\/a><\/li>
- How to Edit Your Photos<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Photography Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- 15 Tips How to Make More Interesting Photos<\/a><\/li>
- 10 Tips How to Shoot More Photos Everyday<\/a><\/li>
- 7 Tips How to Shoot Surreal Photos<\/a><\/li>
- 10 Tips How to Fill the Frame in Photography<\/a><\/li>
- Look Up! 16 Photography Composition Perspective Tips<\/a><\/li>
- 10 Simple Black and White Photography Tips<\/a><\/li>
- 10 Simple Black and White Photography Tips<\/a><\/li>
- 5 Simple Street Photography Composition Tips<\/a><\/li>
- 5 Simple Street Photography Composition Tips<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nPhotography Articles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- How to Elevate Your Photography to the Next Level<\/a><\/li>
- You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re (Already) a Photographer!<\/a><\/li>
- 7 Tips How to Shoot More Photos<\/a><\/li>
- Everything is Permitted in Photography!<\/a><\/li>
- 20 Dark Tips How to Shoot Shadow Photos<\/a><\/li>
- How to Give a Constructive Critique in Photography<\/a><\/li>
- 15 Tips How to Shoot Better Selfies<\/a><\/li>
- Photography is All a Matter of Perspective<\/a><\/li>
- You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re (Already) a Photographer!<\/a><\/li>
- 10 Tips How to Shoot More Photos Everyday<\/a><\/li>
- What is the Secret of Making Great Photographs?<\/a><\/li>
- Free Photography Bootcamp<\/a><\/li>
- If you just wanna shoot freely; shoot both. When you see interesting scenes, keep “working the scene<\/a>” in BOTH vertical and<\/em> horizontal. <\/li>