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Difference Between Landscape and Portrait

Landscape vs Portrait

Landscape and portrait are concepts that are of vital importance in photography, and confuse amateur photographers when they are taking photos from their cameras. Those who are professionals or are seasoned in this field know when to take a landscape or when to go for a portrait to capture a beautiful photograph. However, for those who are new to the field, it is often a difficult choice, and to remove their dilemma, this article attempts to highlight the differences between landscape and portrait to enable new photographers to make a good choice.

The easiest way to understand the differences between landscape and a portrait is to hold a rectangular piece of paper (not square) and to turn it 90 degrees to change from landscape to portrait or from portrait to landscape. Thus, these terms are nothing, but different orientations of the same piece of paper. The page, when it appears to be taller than it is wide is said to be in a portrait mode, while the same page, when it is wider than it is taller is said to be in a landscape mode. This dichotomy is important not just in photography, but also in creating text documents where portrait mode is preferred over landscape mode.

There are no hard and fast rules in photography and it is all about your personal choice. But sometimes, this choice between landscape and portrait makes all the difference between a good photo and a great, brilliant photo. Some photos come out better in landscape, while there are pictures that look better in portrait. The main requirement in all situations remains how to fit in the subject in the best possible manner that also looks beautiful and interesting. The choice also depends upon what you wish to include, and what you desire to be excluded from the photo. Sometimes, the nature of the subject tells you that it has to be landscape rather than portrait such as when you are trying to capture scenery. But, when the subject is a person, you got to capture him or her in a portrait to bring out the best from the person.

If you are confused, and do not know whether to take a portrait or a landscape, you can either take both or follow the rule of the thirds. Try to keep the subject in upper, lower or lefty or right corner or third of the photo. When you have clicked many photos like this, you will automatically have enough knowledge whether to take a portrait or a landscape.

What is the difference between Landscape and Portrait?

• Landscape and portrait are two different orientations of a rectangular paper, but become very important when one has to choose between the two while taking photos or producing text documents.

• Portraits are preferred over landscapes when it comes to text documents like bio-data or letters and applications.

• When it comes to photographs, it boils down to personal choice as well as subject and the conditions prevailing at the time of taking a photograph.