For this exercise I was to take 20 photographs as vertical, as opposed to horizontal framing which for the most part is how most photographs are taken. The reason for this is as most, if not all DSLR's viewfinders and oriented in the horizontal format encouraging the user to frame the photograph in this way.
The exercise was then repeated taking the same photographs in a horizontal format. The purpose of the exercise is to show that most subjects can be photographed vertically as well as horizontal. Where as most of the photographs I took for this exercise work well in either format, some are more suited to the vertical format.
Below are a selection of photographs taken for this exercise.
Image 1
Image 1.1
Images 1 & 1.1 were taken of the 'Love Padlocks' found in a park in Budapest, Hungary. Both versions of the photograph work in either format.
Image 2
Image 2.1
Image 2, the statue of a rather portly Hungarian Policeman suits the vertical format.
Image 3
Image 3.1
As in image 2, image 3 a standing human figure suits the vertical format.
Image 4
Image 4.1
In image 4 the tall cross suits the the vertical format and is a much better photograph than image 4.1, however the horizontal format works as well due to the sunset in the background.
Image 5
Image 5.1
Image 5 works well in either format due to the shape of the flower.
Image 6
Image 6.1
Image 6 is more suited to the horizontal format as the 3:2 frame of image 6.1 with the horizon line and the boats encourage a horizontal arrangement.
Image 7
Image 7.1
Like the photographs of the policeman and the soldier, the vertical image suits the tall signpost.
Image 8
Image 8.1
Image 8 works well in the vertical format, but loses its punch when used in the horizontal format of image 8.1
Image 9
Image 9.1
Image 9 works well in either format, however as in image 6, the horizontal lines favour the 3:2 format.
Image 10
Image 10.1
Most landscapes favour the 3:2 horizontal format, however in image 10, the vertical 2:3 format works better, this in part due to the composition. The foreground interest with the rocks and the line of the sea leading you up to the breakwater.
Prior to commencing this course I might have well just taken the photograph in image 10 as 3:2 format and that was it. As stated by Michael Freeman in "The photographers Eye" there are 3 reasons why we shoot images horizontally. Firstly camera manufactures make cameras for horizontal use and it would be difficult to design a camera to do both vertical and horizontally. Secondly, photographers find it more comfortable to take a picture horizontally and thirdly as we have two eyes and binocular vision so we tend to see horizontally and therefore more natural to us.
In conclusion, most photographs work in either format however as shown in the photographs of the policeman and soldier, these only work in 2:3 vertical format. The landscapes could work with either format depending on composition. As stated in the study notes the result might not be as successful as a horizontal image, but it should make you aware that format is to a large extent a matter of habit.
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