Landscape or Portrait #1?

Google Maps contribution stories
41

@AdamGT , to show the beauty of the building, I would definitely use portrait mode. But if I intended to show how the cathedral merges with the overall skyline, I would choose landscape mode.

2 Likes
42

Beautiful pictures @AdamGT .

Congratulations for your award. Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures and information. Though your picture is in landscape, it gave a portrait effect of the hotel. The same way the cathedral picture also when take from distance will cover the full view. Certainly for a closeup shot the portrait mode only will help. Many times I take portrait pictures like you have taken.

1 Like
43

Normally zoom in with my feet @AdamGT and later I am pretty much always editing every photo nowadays, I don’t like looking at my lousy skies from early photos. Wish I knew then what i know today.

1 Like
44

Thanks for your further explanation @YuliiaZa , it’s an interesting subject.

1 Like
45

Although I’m not sure for what, I must thank you for the congratulations @Gurukrishnapriya . I do understand the point that you are making about the portrait effect of the hotel and in fact, specifically took a number of portrait photos but then decided to include the beautiful garden along the entrance which I think shows off the hotel’s location better.

1 Like
46

We are very much alike more than I originally thought @TerryPG . I also usually zoom with my feet, don’t like many of my early photos, and wish I knew then what I know today. In fact I believe I have said this here on Connect a number of times.

47

Thanks for highlighting aspects of my contribution history @AdamGT . As you would know, both my Star Photo and my Star Video inadvertently contravene the “rules”, and it will be a while before a more conforming contribution reaches the top.

My Star Photo was taken a long time ago in portrait orientation, before I was aware of “best practices”. My next nearest landscape photo is still 969,847 views behind, as of today’s date. The Star Photo (red star) has done an average of 8 views per day so far this month, while the challenger has done 1,973 views per day this month. If we were to maintain those exact numbers going forward, it would take 493 days to close the gap.

969847/(1973-8)=493.56

My Star Video was taken with my phone held in the portrait position, but looks landscape when uploaded on Maps. In discussing this, advice was posted by @Rednewt74 on how to alter my phone camera settings to get the correct appearance, but I haven’t been very active during the past two weeks to test the change. On Saturday I took a video of an insignificant building near home, and it actually appears portrait when uploaded now. Any new videos from this point onward, have to get past my original 30 landscape-looking portraits before I have a “correct” Star Video to keep “Lucy” happy.

2 Likes
48

@tony_b ,

I’m so glad you got the aspect setting figured out. As for a new star photo, I’m in a similar boat as you. I keep adding photo storefronts and I do have one moving up above average. To be honest I’m currently adding the same amount or more videos as still photos, because with the exception of the few storefronts that get the #1 spot, my videos are usually outperforming my photos.

I got lucky last month at McLeod’s Restaurant and got my landscape photo into #1 and a portrait video at #2. The photo is at 14,500 views whilst the video is at 22,427. Interesting days…

1 Like
49

The orientation of your stars is no real drama @tony_b and on this I know well that you will appreciate that the formatting criteria as listed in all 3 star albums has been framed for consistency with Google’s clearly stated preferred orientation (landscape for photos and 360 spheres and portrait for video) and by doing so it reminds everyone of these preferences, even though we may not agree with them.

Just keep doing what you’re doing and even though it’s some 493 days to close the gap, it’s great to hear about your challenger, your up and coming future star photo. It’s also great to hear about your star video and that the advice of @Rednewt74 on how to alter your phone’s camera setting is working out in terms of getting the correct appearance and I do hope that you get improved results from this. I love seeing Local Guides like Alfred helping others. We learn and improve a lot by sharing and caring. On another note, yes “Lucy” is watching you as indeed she’s watching all of us :joy: :rofl:

1 Like
50

I thought you also got an award and hence attended the function @AdamGT . Nevertheless save this congratulations, might be who knows is on the cards and you will be receiving in the near future.

1 Like
51

Thank you so much @Gurukrishnapriya I will definitely save your congratulations with lots and lots of hope.

1 Like
52

@AdamGT ,

4:3 is one of the old standard ratios from film and print days. Also, 5:7 and 8:10. I’d guess the sizes related to the size of the 35mm negatives.

Instagram actually uses a 1:1 ratio and some phones (like @tony_b 's) has a setting for this. My guess is Adrian is referring to the old 4:3 ratio.

1 Like
53

Thanks for sharing that information with us all @Rednewt74 it explains a few things that I certainly didn’t know about. Keep sharing!

1 Like
54

@AdamGT A literal 1:1 square… but it’s meant to be a joke. :yum: I also don’t really get the 4:3 aspect ratio. I mean, I understand the history behind it and the ‘flexibility’ of being able to crop to 16:9 or 9:16 but… hmmm… it just feels like neither here nor there. But that’s just me.

1 Like
55

Thanks for the reassurance @AdamGT

And remember mine do not fall into the category of “even though we may not agree with them”. Its just the way it turned out when I didn’t know better, and now we’re in a waiting game until a different photo or video gain enough views to be in the top Star spots.

1 Like
56

Interesting share @AdamGT . :sparkling_heart:

I have noticed that too- you are right- how with taller objects, portrait makes more sense. Beautiful photo of the cathedral. :couple_with_heart_woman_man:

Great question too about which orientation we prefer.

This may not be a popular answer, but since I take and upload my photos to Maps from my phone, I prefer portrait more in most cases- unless the POI I’m trying to capture is very lengthy or expansive such as a mountain range or a store front with a long sign. Just personal preference- since with portrait mode on a phone, I don’t have to flip my phone around to take/view the photos :two_hearts:

2 Likes
57

I totally get your point @AZ_2021

Natural way to hold a phone …

2 Likes
58

OK I just thought that knowing you @AdrianLunsong , perhaps you intentionally choose square for artistic or nostalgic reasons, evoking the visual style of earlier eras, times when 4:3 was the standard for both film & TV. Personally, I like the more expansive and immersive viewing experience I get from 16:9.

2 Likes
59

You are not alone @tony_b . Stick with it and apply the learnings, what places and what type of photos/videos Google considers best to show the media hungry public and gradually get top star billings.

1 Like
60

Thanks for chiming in @AZ_2021 , your input in such discussions is always interesting and most welcomed and it seems from all the comments thus far, including yours, that my photo of St Patrick’s Cathedral, is a real winner. However, time will tell as, as I have said many times it’s not photos or videos that we like that’s important, it’s what Google likes and sees to be most helpful to the searching/viewing public.

Now back to the question here. Interesting how you fall into the minority group that prefers portrait over landscape for the reason you’ve given. Stay tuned as I’m thinking of commenting more about this in a follow up post :wink:

2 Likes