2 Use aspect ratios to improve composition

Move beyond your camera’s default image format mode and you’ll soon be able to visualise and plan your photography in a whole new way, says Niamh Cottle

When was the last time you changed your camera’s aspect ratio – if ever? The aspect ratio expresses the relationship between the height and width of an image, and is determined by the physical form of your camera’s rectangular imaging sensor. And although full-frame and APS-C sensors are different in size, they both have a default aspect ratio of 3:2. Four Thirds sensors, as their name indicates, have an aspect ratio of 4:3.

But dig into your camera’s menus and you can easily change this setting. For example, my Canon EOS 77D DSLR also offers 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios.

Choosing to shoot in a different aspect ratio offers a simple way to re-evaluate how you photograph subjects. In this project we are going to explore the different aspect ratio formats and what they are best-suited for. I will give you tips for mentally framing a given scene in different aspect ratios, before you even reach for your camera.

Of course, there’s nothing to stop you carrying on shooting in the default 3:2 format and cropping your captures later during editing, but conceiving and composing images in a different aspect ratio encourages experimentation and will really help to develop your photographic skills.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Digital camera and your lens of choice Time: 30 minutes (minimum)