Long in the neck?
You with the long face!
Birds like these works well in portrait format.
Portrait vs Landscape
Even though we mostly shoot with a horizontal frame (landscape format), there are good reasons to sometimes turn your camera sideways and shoot with a vertical frame (portrait format).
New compositions become possible when you turn your camera sideways. If the shape of your subject is tall and thin, vertical is the best framing option.
Keep in mind that animals can “shape-shift” – a pigeon sitting on its nest might be suited for a horizontal frame, but when the same bird sits on a branch its shape will work better in a vertical frame. Let’s see when vertical is best…
When is vertical the best option?
Context. Maybe there are good-looking clouds above the animals, or branches from which they’re plucking leaves (Photo 1). By shooting vertically, you allow room in the foreground or above your subject to show context.
You with the long face! If you want to shoot a portrait (usually a relatively zoomed-in shot of a face) of an animal such as a gemsbok, horns and all (Photo 2) or an elephant, trunk included, portrait format works best.
Long legs and necks. A giraffe has a long neck and long legs, so turn your camera sideways to accommodate the tall shape. Birds like a marabou stork (Photo 3), a heron and an ostrich (when standing), also work well in portrait format.
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