Deaf Dish - ASL vLog / Blog

My post title is Eye2 (the "2" should be displayed as a mathematical symbol of squared similar to this image I created, ), but I do not know how to do it in wordpress.

Squared photography works I love! I remember I used to shoot medium format in the 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 or 6×6 square when I was at Gallaudet University under the wing of Donna MacLean. I love the square images and can't imagine photography without this type.

For me this format has been the most significant tool improving my photographic skills and basic understanding of composition. I try to see the world in square and compose in square. Images in square seem not natural to human vision.  That's what make them more interesting or striking. They force viewers to relate to images — looking at them rather than seeing them as scenes.

There are many different viewpoints about the square. Some people like it, some not.  There are millions of photographs done either in landscape or portrait. They are accustomed to see images that way — and see the world as a scene.  Also, many people are taught to "compose" parts into a rectangle such as prints, canvas (painter), letter or legal sized papers, television, and so on. It's all about the aspect ratio. (square - 1:1 . . . 35mm - 1:5 . . . I am not going to further this… maybe in another entry). It is very rare to see photography works in square except for some fine art galleries and thumbnails seen on several sites like flicker. 

I use 35 mm and digital equipment since I could not afford medium format equipment (2 1/4 x 2 1/4 or 6 x 6), and I use Photoshop or Aperture to crop my photographic images into its format of square, sometimes convert them into black and white to create double impact.

It is not an easy task, but I always keep in mind the principles of design and photography techniques such as rule of thirds, contrast, and so on. You have to aim for an image in its thirds and square before shooting – envision what will it look like in a square before capturing and cropping.

It is quite a challenge to aim for a perfect square, be it done by either with a camera or sophisticated software. It requires some intellectual efforts to put parts together into a whole equal sided quadrate.

Squared photography is considered more "fine art" than rectangular - landscape or portrait. It really grabs attention, even to some people who care less about photography.  I think the square, like black and white film, tends to have strong visual impact — less visual distractions, focusing more attention on the subject.

Signifying Squares! (B & W, too)

Are you going to open a bottle of champagne tonight? Yes? Have you heard of this unique way of opening a champagne bottle with a heavy sword or saber? If not, read on! Very interesting. 

Sabrage or Sabering Champagne  It is the delicate art of "decapitating" the bottles of champagne — orginated in France during the Napoleon time.

When I first learned of this "art", it sounded pretty cool until I saw one of the videos at Wired.com  showing a guy demonstrate the technique. I was not sure if it's cool. He managed to blow off about half the bottle neck and shatter the rest so that almost all of the champagne streaming through the air, and what remained was full of glass pieces.

It looks like a dangerous thing to do. Isn't it? I would never attempt this myself as I don't prefer glass bits in my precious eyes — even in champagne!

I think I'll stick with popping the cork the usual way. 

Have you seen anyone perform it? If so, share the story with us!

More info on sabrage: 

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,72386-0.html?tw=wn_index_1  (showing several videos of guys doing champagne sabering)

http://www.champagnesabering.com/index.php?id=9 (interesting history on champagne sabering)

http://www.champagnesabering.com/index.php?id=4 (tutorial on champagne sabering if you dare to make an attempt)

Have fun tonite! 

 Wishes all Deaf Dish Readers Merry Holidays!