civilized ku # 978 ~ aspect ratio
Thursday, June 9, 2011 at 12:18PM 
Fog in The Notch ~ Wilmington, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenRe: on civilized ku # 974, John Linn wrote/asked:
Some subjects really demand certain aspect ratio treatments (rolling thunder being a good example), but beyond that what impact does format have on images?
To be honest, I have never really given any thought to "what impact does format have on images?" Although, at first blush, my reaction is, "none" that I, personally, am aware of. That is simply because I have no preference for one aspect ratio nor another when viewing the pictures of others, or, for that matter, my pictures.
That is not to say there is no sub-conscious affect. Undoubtedly, there is something, no matter how insignificant it might be, at work relative to picture aspect ratio. However, when I view pictures, as long as the picture, as presented, looks right, then whatever the aspect ratio is, it's just fine with me.
What I can say, re: aspect ratio, is that the pano aspect ratio feels very "expansive" to my eye and sensibilities. That feeling is undoubtedly due to the fact that I can not take in the entirety of the picture in a single glance. My eyes must scan the picture in order to see the whole thing.
Consequently, panoramics feel more "interactive" / "expansive", less "static" / "fixed" stare than conventional aspect ratio pictures. Neither better or worse than non-pano pictures, just different.
Although, that said, some picture making / pictures is/are better suited to the pano aspect ratio.
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