Photo Orientation: Vertical or Horizontal

Ever feel like you have fallen into a rut with your photographs? Here’s one simple thing you can do to add some variety – employ both vertical and horizontal shots. While it’s easy to keep your camera at its traditional horizontal position, remember to also turn your camera sideways and take vertical photographs. By using both vertical and horizontal orientations, you get more choices in composition and emotion.

Decisions. How do you decide which way to hold your camera for the photograph? Usually, your subject matter will dictate the best orientation. Consider the shape of your subject. If your subject is wide, take a horizontal photograph. If your subject is tall, take a vertical photograph. Also consider the mood you want to create and which orientation best conveys that message.

Vertical - Vertical photographs create a feeling of strength, stressing depth or height. Hold the camera vertically to take pictures of vertical subjects such as tall buildings, tall trees, tall animals and waterfalls. Photographs of individual people feel more natural in the vertical position because people are tall. A lot of sports photographs are shot vertically, especially if the shot is of an individual.

The height created by the jellyfish’s tentacles make it well suited for a vertical photograph.

Horizontal - Horizontal photographs create a feeling of calmness or stability, stressing width over height. Hold the camera horizontally to take pictures of horizontal subjects such as a skyline, a ranch-style house, a long-bodied animal or a lake. While individuals appear more vertical, a group of people will appear more horizontal. Therefore switch to horizontal for more than two people.

Landscapes such as this photograph of Sedona work well in horizontal photographs, emphasizing the expanse of the subject.

Vertical and Horizontal - Not sure which way to go? Do both! Take a photograph of the same subject both ways. You will notice differences in the effects of light, composition and mood.

Both vertical and horizontal photographs were taken of Chicago. Notice the change in mood and subject. In the horizontal photograph, the skyline is emphasized. In the vertical photograph, the Sears Tower is emphasized.

Experiment. While in general the subject matter determines the orientation of your camera, also experiment with an unusual orientation to get a different effect. For example, landscapes generally look best in a horizontal orientation, but they can also look fabulous as a vertical photograph.

By using the shape of your subject as a guide, you can learn to correctly choose between vertical and horizontal photographs. With time, this choice becomes instinctive and your photographs will look even better.