I need to MAKE myself take vertical photos, HELP!!!

[maslex]

For some reason or another, I tend to take all of my pictures horizontally. WHY IS THAT???? When do you decide to take a vertical one? I will see a tall building or something and never think to take it vertically. Why am I so vertically challenged? I am going on a cruise in just 11 days and I want to try my hardest to take some verticals but how do I discipline myself to do so?

 

[Kelly Grannell]

it's all about style and interpretation. Experiment, see what you like. In my case, more than 60% of my pics are vertical.

 

[caniswolfie]

You could always try to take a photo both ways when you are setting up shots and see which ones you like better. So whenever you are setting up a shot, for posing, landscapes, etc., you can take a horizontal and vertical. That way you get in the habit of trying both every time and eventually get an eye for which you would choose.

You may not want to do this during the "one-time" opportunity shots because you might miss them. But I think it would be okay if you have the time when taking regular patient photos.

 

[manning]

You could always try to take a photo both ways when you are setting up shots and see which ones you like better. So whenever you are setting up a shot, for posing, landscapes, etc., you can take a horizontal and vertical. That way you get in the habit of trying both every time and eventually get an eye for which you would choose.

You may not want to do this during the "one-time" opportunity shots because you might miss them. But I think it would be okay if you have the time when taking regular patient photos.

Good advise. When I compose I look at it both ways. When in doubt I shoot both ways. When it is a quick grab shot it is a snap decision, usually horizontal.

 

[ducklite]

Like Kelly I'd say that 60, if not 70% of my photo's are verticle. It just depends on works best with the composition.

Anne

 

[Anewman]

For some reason or another, I tend to take all of my pictures horizontally. WHY IS THAT???? When do you decide to take a vertical one? I will see a tall building or something and never think to take it vertically. Why am I so vertically challenged? I am going on a cruise in just 11 days and I want to try my hardest to take some verticals but how do I discipline myself to do so?

Without looking at examples of your work we can only guess.

My guess...

You need to move in closer, this will force you to shoot verticaly when needed.

 

[mhutchinson]

All the tips given have sounded really good to me. I will typically shoot vertically if the main subject composition is vertical and I want that composition or the height of the subject to be more of the focal point to what I am taking.

While on a cruise if you are taking a picture of someone standing at a deck rail with a nice backdrop and want to use this as a portrait style, then take it vertical. If you want the picture to show that this person was a spectacular location with the emphasis more on the location and yet still include them, then take it horizontal. If you want to add dramatic height to a landscapes, buildings, or structure (such as the ship or smoke stacks) then this is another time to try vertical.

I completely agree with the statements made previously that when in doubt take one of each styles and to move in closer to the subject for a vertical shot if possible. Either way is always a style preference by the photographer, and your preference may lean more towards one style over another.

Mike

 

[jann1033]

maybe go through some of your downloaded pics and temporarliy crop them( at least my software grays out the part not in the crop...that might help you visualize how something would look vertically vs horizontally and make a mental note of the kinds of things you liked that way...

for some reason even lots of stuff i take horizontally ends up cropped so it's more vertical...in fact i was just thinking yesterday i need to take more horizontal and leave it that way, i never seem to do wide angle(maybe cause i'm 1/2 blind and can't see that far away in real life )

 

[0bli0]

my photos are about 80% portrait mode as they are mostly of people playing sports and portraits commercially. if i take those out, looking through my library i'd still say they're about 70% portrait mode.

if you have any old slides, take one and remove the film. use the slide to get an idea of composition. it's awkward at first, and perhaps you may feel a bit embarassed, but it's a fantastic way of starting to see things without waiting for the LCD after you've taken a shot. you can also make yourself a template out of cardboard or even use your hands with thumbs outstretched the way film directors do. the problem with that is it's extremely unnatural to orient your hands in portrait mode so until you get used to it you'll tend to use your hands in landscape orientation.

having a camera with a grip that has a shutter release on the side helps (so it's naturally in the right spot when the camera is vertical).