Almost all the photos shown here on Darker View are cropped at a 2:3 ratio. The reason for this? I like it. And perhaps I am used to this ratio. It is very traditional, having been used for many applications for decades, including the venerable 35mm photographic film.
Any number of cameras produce images with a 2:3 ratio, including APS-C sensor DLSR’s like my Canon 60D. The ratio is by no means universal. Many cameras use a 4:3 ratio, most compacts do, including my Canon G12. Other ratios are popular, HD video is 16:9, spurring a rise in popularity of this wider format.
I have read a little about the choice in cropping, the argument regular rages in photographic circles. One article in particular got my attention, the author extolling the virtues of a square crop, a 1:1 ratio. Perhaps I am in a rut, and need to explore the use of other cropping ratios. I use 1:1 on occasion, usually for astrophotos. Perhaps I should experiment with other ratios more often.
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I prefer 2:3 as it’s closer to the golden ratio of 1:1.618. However I’ll usually crop ‘as shot’ as I’m sort of lazy.
I”m also seeing 1:1 work for certain compositions, the one’s that have radial or circular balance, it does help to emphasize the subject better. Sort of like adding vignetting.
On the other hand, most of my cropping depends on the media I’m printing on, mostly 8.5×11 or 8×10, which is close to 4:3.
I think the larger you print, 4:3 or 1:1starts to look a little better, it’s not as ‘stretched out’ though again, depends on the picture and whether it’s vertical or horizontal.
So many aspect ratios, so little time.