Recently, I was sorting through some medium format images when I reminded myself just how much I really dig the square format!
I try to carry my point and shoot camera with me at all times. I like to think of it as my digital sketch book, and it helps keep me on my creative toes. I decided that I wanted to start using my point and shoot camera to take pictures that I could later crop into the square format.
Sure, you can crop any digital image into a square format for the same effect, but you either have to a) have an image that lends itself well to the square composition accidentally, or b) envision the square format when composing the image originally.
As for me, I like to have a plan, even if I am just carrying around my pocket camera, and right now, my plan is to be a square.
For this idea, I don’t want to have to eyeball where the composition should be. I’d like to just see the square format when I compose so that I don’t get distracted by the rest of the frame.
(I’ll blame this on my ADD 
My solution?
I simply took my point and shoot camera, measured the short side of the LCD. Then I measured the exact same distance on the long side, and made a small mark on the top and bottom of the body next to the screen with a sharpie.
Next, I took a piece of black gaffers tape, and laid it across the LCD from top mark to bottom mark, and
Voila!
Instant pre-cropped LCD ready to shoot squared!
Of course the real image is still in the normal format, and needs to be cropped to match the intended composition, but that’s the easy part.
Since the image was already composed with the square crop in mind, all I have to do when I import the photos into Lightroom, is head over to the Develop module, select the preset 1×1 crop overlay, and drag it into position.
Toss in a little post processing, and it’s done.
When I want to go back to the normal full display, I can just pull the tape off, and stick it onto the side of the camera. Out of the way, but easily within reach.
Oh, and don’t worry. The gaffers tape is low adhesive, so it doesn’t leave residue on the camera.
It’s a simple hack, but it’s fun.
Now go shoot!
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Tags: creativity, medium format, photography, tips