Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Maybe someone is practicing the "Dutch Angle" technique.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Yep, it sure does, and then there is this: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-1-1.html

srt101fan

What a silly non-issue.

The vast majority of cell phone picture-takers are not interested in "making" photographs. So they hold the phone in the most comfortable and stable position for web surfing, reading, texting and, yes, picture-taking. And that's the vertical orientation.

More serious "photographers" will hold the phone to frame the subject the way they want it framed.

What's the issue?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Beats me, I have no issue, simply offering an explanation.
Like you said, "...hold the phone to frame the subject the way they want it framed.", which I do, and I prefer landscape. For messages, grocery list, etc., I hold it vertically as most apps are written for vertical orientation.
Viewing websites horizontally or vertically depends on the website design/layout. Many are best viewed horizontally, initially designed for (on) a computer screen.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Yes - you could be right - I've been a M4/3 photographer since first launch - closest format to square. Seemed to be best all-rounder.

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

[quote=Fstop12] "I think it's the difference between young and old folks."

...and (IMO) whether or not they have had any Art or Composition lessons/training.

(Download)


(Download)

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Emile Pakarklis has a great YouTube video on how to hold a smartphone for stability and easy rotation from vertical to horizontal. It works well.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I don't see this is generational at all.
Middle-aged and old farts when using cell phones for photos overwhelmingly shoot vertical compositions, at least from personal observations at events and travels.
If mirrorless cameras had the sensor placed vertically it would take no time at all before a vast majority of photos would be taken in portrait mode. Why? Ease of holding the camera. This UHH group is a piss poor sample group to discuss phone vs camera and composition. Most everyone here
is traditional camera orientation focused and not overly tolerant of any change.
As the article points out my cell phone camera is 99.9% business use and recording for record and vertical is just fine and if horizontal is called for I somehow figured out how to do a horizontal shot with it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I found the perfect way for me.
Left hand; resting on little finger; lenses to the right; index and middle finger on top; thumb on top left corner.
Easy use of controls with right hand.

lreisner Loc: Union,NJ

Have things really changed all that much since affordable instamatic cameras became available in the realm of picture taking? I do not think so. There are snap shot takers who've been around since cameras became affordable and serious photographers who give thought to what they are taking, professional or amateur. While instamatic cameras, with the the original "P" setting, were design to take mostly horizontal pictures, cellphone cameras are vertical as are their vertical viewing platform, the screen.

What has changed is that cellphone cameras have become the instamatic cameras of current day, a majority of the people have one and carry them practically 24/7 and many use them continuously. So not only has the proliferation of cameras led to more pictures but these same devices allow the sharing of pictures and video inmass like never before.

Of course, most cellphone cameras are far more sophisticated than instamatics are, allowing for their professional use, but the average person just shoots and post without a thought to composition, lighting... As much as things change, a lot has not.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Same scenario, different "box". Just more boxes out there, so more people are taking pictures.

srt101fan

One major change: picture-taking is now free!

JeffL Loc: New Jersey

For most people, non-photographers, the phone camera is just a way to capture the moment. It is not usually meant to be “art”. It is truly a world of snapshots. When SLR’s were introduced for serious photographers, most people were using Instamatics with stick on top flash cubes. They, like most cellphone users, they just wanted a way to remember the event, place, or people. Not too much time spent on composition, lighting, depth of field, etc. However, as we see in the Smartphone Photography section, there are real photographers who just prefer the cellphone that is always with them over camera equipment that you need to lug around. Thankfully, we live in an era where there is an abundance of choices.

JeffL Loc: New Jersey

For most people, non-photographers, the phone camera is just a way to capture the moment. It is not usually meant to be “art”. It is truly a world of snapshots. When SLR’s were introduced for serious photographers, most people were using Instamatics with stick on top flash cubes. They, like most cellphone users, just wanted a way to remember the event, place, or people. Not too much time spent on composition, lighting, depth of field, etc. However, as we see in the Smartphone Photography section, there are real photographers who just prefer the cellphone that is always with them over camera equipment that you need to lug around. Thankfully, we live in an era where there is an abundance of choices.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

As the Admin in the Smartphone Photography section I invite you to subscribe to our section if you haven't already done so.