The Format

When you speak about format what is meant is whether you hold the camera the normal way or whether you twist your arm so that the camera goes through 90 degrees to frame your subject.

Although the size of the image sensor varies from camera to camera, the image shape is always rectangular. In most cameras the proportions of the images fall into one of  groups. One is those that have aspect ratios of 3:2, with two sides that are 50 percent longer than the others. These are the same proportions used by 35mm film cameras. Then there are those that use an aspect ratio of 4:3, where the long side is one-third longer than the others. 

When you shoot with the longer side along the horizontal, which is the more natural thing to do, it is referred to as the landscape format. When you turn the camera and use the long side as the vertical side it is referred to as the portrait format.

Because of the way digital cameras are designed, it is much easier to shoot (and view) horizontal format shots than vertical ones. But it is important that you check to see if the subject could be framed better by rotating the camera. This is a good habit to get into. It might feel uncomfortable using the camera this way but you will get used to it.

Some subjects, such as full-length portraits, or shots of tall towers, trees, arches, would likely work better with more vertical picture space. However this is not a rule and there is no way to categorize what works better with which format. It is just something that you will need to figure out by actually viewing and framing the subject before shooting. For example, some portraits are far better framed with the landscape format, and some landscape portraits may be more simply composed using the vertical format.

The photograph above taken from the fort at Murud which frames a boat through an arch in the fort worked better for me in the portrait format than in the landscape format.

One thing is for sure, once you get into the habit of experimenting and trying the different formats, you could get some interesting shots and you will add variety to your pictures.