Cell phone orientation: I was just reading a thread where people seemed mystified about orientation for a cell phone, that portrait is somehow locked in, probably that’s because most...

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I was just reading a thread where people seemed mystified about orientation for a cell phone, that portrait is somehow locked in, probably that’s because most people use it that way. On YouTube, Emil Pakarklis shows a good stable way to hold a cell phone that allows switching from portrait to landscape with a simple rotation of the wrist.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Not rocket science.....
(Mine is in landscape 98% of the time. But I do shoot panos in portrait mode for the added viewing angle.)

BebuLamar

People use their cell phone in portrait orientation because the cell phones are designed to be used that way. So when they take pictures (even video and with video when view on a TV can't be shown full screen. With a monitor you can rotate) they hold the phone that way. The same people when use a camera would shoot only in landscape orientation. So whether it's portrait or landscape it's about holding and not about what results in the best composition.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I despise the vertical out of focus moving side-bars when a vertical video is displayed! VERY distracting and annoying!

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

gvarner wrote:

I was just reading a thread where people seemed mystified about orientation for a cell phone, that portrait is somehow locked in, probably that’s because most people use it that way. On YouTube, Emil Pakarklis shows a good stable way to hold a cell phone that allows switching from portrait to landscape with a simple rotation of the wrist.

This put a smile on my face! Sunday my son was showing some train pictures (we're rail fans) on his cell. I asked him why he was taking pictures of long trains in portrait position. He thought about that for about a second and started laughing at himself.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Rich1939 wrote:

This put a smile on my face! Sunday my son was showing some train pictures (we're rail fans) on his cell. I asked him why he was taking pictures of long trains in portrait position. He thought about that for about a second and started laughing at himself.

Maybe next time???

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Rich1939 wrote:

This put a smile on my face! Sunday my son was showing some train pictures (we're rail fans) on his cell. I asked him why he was taking pictures of long trains in portrait position. He thought about that for about a second and started laughing at himself.

I think that the "phonies" out of habit hold it for photos the same way they hold it for talking. 😉😉

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I use mine in landscape all the time, I don't need to use setting to do this, the phone turns the view from portrait to landscape automatically.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

gvarner wrote:

I think that the "phonies" out of habit hold it for photos the same way they hold it for talking. 😉😉

Watch out. You are getting closer to the tar pit.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

gvarner wrote:

I think that the "phonies" out of habit hold it for photos the same way they hold it for talking. 😉😉

That, along with people being taller than they are wide. Regardless of the camera, I find portrait view more natural for portraits of two or less and for families who may prefer full bodies in the photo. Watching others with phone cameras tells me some others may approach it in the same way. I never thought about the phone being designed for holding more or less upright. That probably does explain a lot of the vertical videos.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Retina wrote:

That, along with people being taller than they are wide. Regardless of the camera, I find portrait view more natural for portraits of two or less and for families who may prefer full bodies in the photo. Watching others with phone cameras tells me some others may approach it in the same way. I never thought about the phone being designed for holding more or less upright. That probably does explain a lot of the vertical videos.

Close portraits of people? Naturally.
Scenics or news "reporting" - landscape.....
I suppose since <D>SLRs are designed for "landscape", no one uses portrait?
I hold my phone horizontal with absolutely no awkwardness.
And hold my DSLR in portrait when desired for the composition.

Dannj

Longshadow wrote:

I despise the vertical out of focus moving side-bars when a vertical video is displayed! VERY distracting and annoying!

Me too!
(although “despise” is kind of a strong word which I generally reserve for the cretins who insist on having loud, private conversations on their cell phones in public places😊)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Dannj wrote:

Me too!
(although “despise” is kind of a strong word which I generally reserve for the cretins who insist on having loud, private conversations on their cell phones in public places😊)

Na, I just dislike them and think they are idiots.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'm with you 100%
--Bob

Longshadow wrote:

I despise the vertical out of focus moving side-bars when a vertical video is displayed! VERY distracting and annoying!

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Rich1939 wrote:

This put a smile on my face! Sunday my son was showing some train pictures (we're rail fans) on his cell. I asked him why he was taking pictures of long trains in portrait position. He thought about that for about a second and started laughing at himself.

Nice post! Open & honest!
Mark