SHOOTING WITH CAMERA SETTINGS 1:1 ASPECT RATIO

On occasion, here and there, I have used the 1:1 aspect ratio on my Fujifilm X100F, which I have owned for a few years now. It's a lovely camera and using the square, 1:1 ratio, was just a way of exploring different settings without any idea to use or print the images.

For a long time I have been a fan of Vivian Maier, an American street photographer whose work I can just stare at and admire, page after page. She primarily used Rolleiflex cameras that produced 1:1 aspect ratio (6cm x 6cm) photographs.

Recently I found some of my earlier experimental (1:1) images and remembered the fun I had with an alternative approach and framing images differently. So now, rather than just running through the camera settings for the sake of it, I carry two cameras and have set the X100F to 1:1 and Monochrome permanently, and kept my X-Pro 3 to 3:2 aspect ratio and colour. This allows me to delve further into the approach while enjoying something new.

This, I must point out, is in no way my attempt to produce photographs as good or similar to Vivian Maier's work – I would think that impossible, her work is so sublime. I just find it quite natural to see images and frame up photographs using the 1:1 ratio. I don't see it overriding all my work, it's just very rewarding to have the camera all set up and ready to go when the moment presents itself.

At this point I'm not sure if there will be a dedicated page on my website for my black and white photography, we will see. Of course there is plenty of colour photography plus graphic illustration and collage work to be seen @ sleeplessink.com