Which Cropping Orientation Works Best With a Vertical Subject?

What’s Your Preferred Orientation?

I struggle to decide which orientation to use when framing a subject with a long vertical image.  There are four approaches:  Landscape, Portrait, Square, or Custom.  For convenience sake lets stick to the first three.  When I was in Miami-Dade County, Florida last month we visited what is affectionately called “The Dump Marsh.”   There was an active landfill nearby with thousands of vultures and gulls swarming around the bulldozers as they spread the latest loads of garbage.  The Dump Marsh was across the street from the landfill, perhaps the ground was excavated to provide the “fill” for the landfill and hole filled with water.  As we walked along the Dump Marsh there were a number of White Ibis wading through the shallow water but one of them had found a small mound of dirt to perch on.  From my vantage point there was a great reflection of the bird so I took a number of shots (did I tell you I like reflection shots?).  Back home I selected what I thought was the best image but I was flummoxed as to how to frame the image.  Below the three orientations of the same shot (to eliminate one variable I vertically centered each of the images).  Please let me know which one you like best and WHY.  I can’t decide so you’ll be helping me out – not only with this one but with others in the future.

1) Landscape Orientation

2) Portrait Orientation

3) Square Frame

Let me know what you think.  I’ll post your responses in a few days.

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