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Alert readers may have noticed that I am lately fond of the 1:1 ratio in processing photos. (Why does that sound so familiar)? I’ve seen many photographers present in the square format and I think it’s more popular today than it ever was. I think this format, more so than most others, draws your eye to the center of the composition. You may have to keep the format in mind when shooting, but still, it’s flexible enough that many photos may look great cropped square even if it wasn’t the original intention. Again, Lightroom has 1:1 listed as a standard crop ratio in the Crop tool set and it’s very easy to apply.
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Works for me, love this
Thanks, SP.
Nice set of images (from one square to another). But I am glad to see that these crops are being rationed (check your added “n”… adds a little humor but not sure it was intended).
Did you do some misting on the tulip or was that natural dew? The dandelion is a great shot.
Thanks, John. I rely on the spell check too often.
The mist is tap water applied from an old Windex bottle. It just never rains when I need it.
I’ve been doing quite a lot of 1:1 lately, it’s a nice format for some images…single flowers, old car badges, Emo. Nice set Ken…
Thanks, John. Emo gave this his approval, too.
Yes I love square format too… Working great here.
Thanks, Sudarshan. I find myself using it more and more. I used to shoot a square medium format (film) camera years ago and now I’m rediscovering it.
Great!!! Looking ahead to see more from you with sq format…:)
Incredible images the detail is amazing 🙂
Thanks, Joe. I’ve been pretty happy with the resolution of the files from the Nikon. Still, I’d love to have a wider angle lens. Some day.
🙂
I have used the square crop myself. Believe it or not, I’ve used it on some of my portrait work too. I especially like it for macro though. Beautiful images, by the way. I love the last one. Square crop but still using the rule of thirds, brilliant! And of course, you just can’t miss that intense look on his eyes.
Thanks, Gracie. That’s the look he gives me when he’s annoyed. I get it a lot.
These are outstanding. Each time I go through them I pick a different favorite. For the moment, Nemo sticks with me the longest. What gorgeous eyes and gorgeously captured.
I like 1:1 ratio very much. A considerable percentage of my work is cropped square.
Thanks, Anita. Good to hear from you. Square is the new 8×10 I think. I had two photos printed for display last week.
I’m also a fan of the square format, Ken. It especially works for the second and third photos, but I kind of feel like I’m missing something with the rose. That one might work as an 8×10. 😉
Thanks, Tom.I went back to my original file of the Tulip (shot on May 19) and this particular shot was part of a series of tests using the extension tubes and focusing rail outdoors. There is nothing cropped at the top or bottom of the frame, just the sides to get the square format. I have other shots that include more space around the flowers but I liked this the best. I also processed a virtual copy in the 16:9 ratio and it looks great. I’ll try to get that posted soon.
I have a seat-of-the-pants approach with each picture . . . I tweak the crop until it looks right. I seldom notice the ratio, and don’t start with a particular value in mind. I also don’t notice it in other people’s work. I don’t know if that is a good thing or not.
However, the theme I use has a maximum width of 640, but as far as I can tell, no vertical limit. If I want to show a “big” picture, I tend to crop an upright rectangle (when the image allows it), as that will show up large on the blog.
So, maybe I do pay a little attention; not to the actual ratio, but to the shape.
And yes, all three photos work well in the square crop . . . of course, it could just be they are great photos, and anything would have worked.
Thanks, E. The approach you use is the one I used to use. I did not pay attention to crop ratios or standard sizes like 5×7 or 8×10. But the crop ratios included in the crop tool in Lightroom got me to thinkin’ about some of the series work I find myself doing and how they could be used to maintain a certain consistency. And because my background is in printing, I try to be aware of the ease at which each photo can be printed without much adjustment. I never consider the blog size restrictions. Maybe I should.
I do crop differently for printing, but I do so little printing these days that I don’t even know where I put the conversion chart I had made (pixels/inches combination for various enlargements) when I used to process for printing.
love the detail in the dandy shot.
Thanks, Martin. I cultivate them in my back yard!
Thumbs up. (y)
Great post, Ken! (As always).
Thanks, Malin.
Classi 1:1 compositions. I love that Tulip in particular.
Aw, Emo will be so sad.
Please apologise to Emo.
Amazing tulip with drops of water, fantastic colour. I like the second one and I love Emo. I also like the square format and sometimes I use it too using the crop tool from Photofiltre.
Thanks, Chantal. I’m not familiar with Photofiltrr. I will check it out.
Nice shot of Emo. Did you have to get in the closet to take this shot? Or perhaps he is out and about more often in the summer (as is my cat).
1:1 may be coming back in part because of instagram which requires it. (Though it is amusing to see the lengths people go to in order to circumvent that restriction).
Cats have a triangular shaped face but it’s impossible to get
Lightroom to crop a triangle. The square is close enough for Emo. He is usually available for photos on Saturday morning since he is required to post a photo to Facebook each “Caterday”. I should do a post here of those photos.
Can’t get enough of Emo, that is for sure.