This is such a common question, in my own mind when I’m shooting and asked of me by other photographers. “Is there a recipe for when you should shot one way or the other” Jim just wrote me and asked. I actually think of this as a cropping question as much as anything else. I think of it in this way because the format you select often crops the subject like you see here in the B-17G “Thunderbird.” I selected these image to illustrate my point because in these photos, the background plays no part in the decision. When that happens (which is rare), then it’s a matter of how you want to speak about the subject. In this example one format depicts grace while the other depicts bad ass. Just changing the format in this case seems to be a simple question of what you want to say about the subject.
In this example I used the luxury of no background to make a simple point. Add in a background and the question to format gets more complicated but I think the bottom line is the same. What and how do you want to speak about the subject? Either format crops into the subject and that’s where problems can arise from the wrong decision. This is a very common question when photography big game. An awkward crop will render your beautiful big game subject into looking like some wall mount in somebodies game room. Not good. So in my own mind when asking which format I ask myself, “What is the subject saying,” “Which creates the most visual depth,” and “Which is not awkward?” It’s difficult to help others when I don’t have my own formula for formats since it is usually decided on the fly as the subject presents me the options. But hope this at least answers Jim’s question.
Photo captured by D3x, 70-200VRII w/TC-17e