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3:2 4:3 16:9 < 1:1

R1230135 (Medium)New buildings versus old buildings; a road jam-packed with Euro-standard compliant double-decker bus; the UK-style traffic light; bamboo scaffolds; a Chinese oldie reading newspaper on the street -- these factors conspire to represent one thing: Hongkongness.

Of all the image formats, the one-to-one, or also 6-by-6 for that matter, format is the most unique in its own way. Owing to its confined space, it is not intended in any way for landscape works or whatever shots which require a wide view. But that is only one side of the coin. This special image format is actually tailored for certain effect.

Since the framed space is crampy, the 1:1 format is best for accentuating the subject or whatever images which highlight a sense of compression, like the typical sight of Hong Kong's crowded city scene. The 1:1 format can fake in the final image a compressed depth of field as done with a zoom lens like in the picture here. I like this picture for the rich cultural references given by the elements, as well as for the sense of depth/ compression.

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