Let's face it. We take more photos today than ever before. Taking photos has become an everyday thing for many. We love to snap and post even the most mundane moments of our lives.
Vertical photos or video
However, a lot of the stuff that's posted on Facebook and Instagram carries with it the curse of the iPhone or any smartphone. It's the dreaded vertical photo or worse, vertical video.
This occurs when you hold the iPhone vertically, as you normally hold the phone to read or text, and snap the photo or record the video. It might seem like the natural thing to do. But the resulting image or video leaves much to be desired.
Vertical photos or video
However, a lot of the stuff that's posted on Facebook and Instagram carries with it the curse of the iPhone or any smartphone. It's the dreaded vertical photo or worse, vertical video.
This occurs when you hold the iPhone vertically, as you normally hold the phone to read or text, and snap the photo or record the video. It might seem like the natural thing to do. But the resulting image or video leaves much to be desired.
Like standard def TV
A vertical orientation for a photo or video means that there's more height than width. Notice the photo above. It might look good on your phone, but you leave out a lot of content to the right or left of the main subject. Sort of like watching an old standard definition television program on HD TV.
Doesn't fill the screen
It's a problem for photos, but it's especially a problem when it comes to video. No video editing software program is very accepting of vertical video. The video simply doesn't fill the screen. You either have to zoom in on the image or you end up with black strips on either side.
Now, there is a solution for working with vertical video that I'll get to in another post, but the real solution is to never have the problem in the first place.
Sure, there are times when it makes sense to use the vertical orientation because of the composition of the shot. But, beyond that, there's almost no reason to do it.
Break the curse
Bottom line: Break the curse. Never take vertical video, and be careful with vertical photos, as well. Turn the phone to the side and take a horizontal image. You'll be glad you did.
WesBleed.com | Twitter: @wesbleed
A vertical orientation for a photo or video means that there's more height than width. Notice the photo above. It might look good on your phone, but you leave out a lot of content to the right or left of the main subject. Sort of like watching an old standard definition television program on HD TV.
Doesn't fill the screen
It's a problem for photos, but it's especially a problem when it comes to video. No video editing software program is very accepting of vertical video. The video simply doesn't fill the screen. You either have to zoom in on the image or you end up with black strips on either side.
Now, there is a solution for working with vertical video that I'll get to in another post, but the real solution is to never have the problem in the first place.
Sure, there are times when it makes sense to use the vertical orientation because of the composition of the shot. But, beyond that, there's almost no reason to do it.
Break the curse
Bottom line: Break the curse. Never take vertical video, and be careful with vertical photos, as well. Turn the phone to the side and take a horizontal image. You'll be glad you did.
WesBleed.com | Twitter: @wesbleed
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