New technique challenge: Square Format Photography
Thank you all so much for voting for my ICM image. I am thrilled and terrified at the same time to get to host the next technique challenge. After considering a few different things, I have decided to focus on composition, in particular composition for square images.
Square photography is nothing new. It has been invented with the Rolleiflex in 1929, and been around ever since. I suppose Instagram is all square photography, and there are plenty of great and not so great examples out there. Square photography requires the photographer to compose pictures in a different way. In my research, I found interesting information, and below see the links to a few websites that I found most helpful.
So, what makes a great square image?
1. Fill the frame
2. Juxtapose squares and circles in the frame
3. When shooting single-subjects, center them– in portraits have their eyes in the upper-thirds of the frame
4. Integrate lines and geometry into your image
5. Make your images symmetrical
6. Shoot squares intentionally (set your camera to a 1:1 aspect ratio if you can).
Smart phones typically come with the option to take pictures in the 1:1 aspect ratio. Some DSLRs come with that feature as well (but not my Nikon). While some people say to go out and shoot in a square format, others think cropping the image later is the better way to go. If you can – try to set your camera to the 1:1 aspect ratio and see how it affects your thinking when composing images.
More information and detailed explanations can be found here:
I think this is an excellent composition challenge! And it should be accessible to all, advanced cameras via an editor/crop, and even phone cameras can shoot square out of the box. Many compact cameras will also have a square crop for jpegs out of the camera. @transatlantic99
I love this one. I frequently turn to inventive cropping and square format in post production to salvage what otherwise would be a lackluster picture. Even today's picture (2/28) is an example of this. But for the rest of this week I will shoot in the square format because...it's a great format!
Great choice! I do like square shots (and have done a number of monthly themes on them in the past) but I normally do them in post-processing. However, reading this thread and some of your links I have actually discovered that one of my cameras does shoot in 1:1 ratio and RAW!
This is why I love 365 so much, there is always something to learn!
I shall participate as much as I can.
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Looking forward to your pictures!
This is why I love 365 so much, there is always something to learn!
I shall participate as much as I can.
Maybe diagonals? Someone help me here.