| As an amateur, most people will pick up | | | | the subject. |
| the camera and hold it in the typical | | | | Another example would be in nature |
| lateral position for nearly every shot. | | | | shots. If the subject of focus is a |
| This "landscape" orientation often | | | | single tree, a portrait orientation |
| produces very acceptable images but in | | | | would be effective in reducing some of |
| some instances, turning the camera on | | | | the extraneous objects to the left and |
| end for a "portrait" shot is the better | | | | right of the subject. On the other hand, |
| choice. For those with very limited | | | | if the subject to be captured is a |
| experience with their digital camera the | | | | gradually sloping mountain or the front |
| decision as to which orientation to use | | | | and side of a covered bridge, a |
| can be confusing. | | | | landscape orientation would be more |
| Certainly, photographers can get quite | | | | appropriate. |
| creative and take shots of people at a | | | | The movement of the subject is the other |
| variety of angles to provide greater | | | | factor that should be considered when |
| interest. Experimentation is not to be | | | | determining which way the camera should |
| discouraged. However, for more reliable | | | | be held. If the subject is moving left |
| results, the traditional orientation of | | | | to right, a landscape orientation is |
| portrait or landscape is typically | | | | more often the optimal choice but if |
| recommended for beginners. Which way | | | | movement is upward or downward, portrait |
| the digital camera should be oriented | | | | orientation often works best. |
| generally depends on one of two things: | | | | For example, if the subject of a picture |
| the subject's position or the movement | | | | is to be a dog walking along a line of |
| of the subject. | | | | rail road tracks and the photographer |
| One of the basic rules of photography is | | | | wishes to capture the movement looking |
| to focus on the subject and to reduce | | | | down the track off into the horizon, a |
| the appearance of other items in the | | | | portrait orientation best demonstrates |
| frame which will distract from the | | | | the movement. However, in the same |
| subject within the image. Sometimes | | | | scene, if the aim is to show the animal |
| orienting the camera differently will | | | | moving horizontally, versus off into the |
| allow the photographer to eliminate the | | | | horizon, a landscape orientation would |
| distractions without stepping in closer | | | | be preferable. In this case, it is not |
| or cropping the image later. For | | | | only the subject but the direction of |
| instance, if the subject is a person | | | | movement of that subject that determines |
| standing, most often the orientation of | | | | how the image will be best captured. |
| the camera should be portrait. This will | | | | As with any rule, there are instances |
| result in fewer distracting details | | | | where these traditional guidelines can |
| showing up to the left and right of the | | | | be violated with great results. However, |
| person standing in the picture. However, | | | | in most instances adhering to these |
| if this same person is reclining, the | | | | guidelines will allow the beginning |
| orientation of the picture should | | | | photographer to capture images with |
| generally be landscape. This will | | | | their digital camera that they will be |
| eliminate more of the dead space or | | | | proud to display. |
| distracting items from above or below | | | | |