Square imagery: Irony of abstraction contained in precise measurements.

What is a square?
Webster would have us think it is:
1: an instrument having at least one right angle and two straight edges used especially to lay out or test right angles
2: a rectangle with all four sides equal
3: any of the quadrilateral spaces marked out on a board for playing games
4: the product of a number multiplied by itself
5 a: an open place or area formed at the meeting of two or more streets

Demonstrating a square in any design, precise measurements is essential to accomplishing end results, it would not be a square if all sides don’t add up.
In design and construction, square roots and footage …must be exact.
Perhaps that plays a role with the fascination in producing more creative
use of the square.
The artist is allowed to ability to create illusions that have you look twice.
There is a certain Trompe-l'œil effect as various forms contained in squared off measurements seem larger , wider or just not square.

So in this months installment from

We present the administrators selection and the reasons they find themselves
bumping into walls of 6x6.


said the following:


When suggestion speaks more than showing, when one detail is all, the square is so perfect and strong...



the classical and effective idea, the frame in the frame, deeper perspective and focus on the subject.... original application here, with these women legs and the point of view... low speed brings mystery and movement, an excellent street shot...


An excellent close-up for a square.... I guess it was shot with a long focal, deleting the perspective and any landmark.... where are from those trees in the backgroud? and the BW is achieving the task...



I like the construction of the pic here, on the theme of stripes, stripes in the sky which leads to the figure... stripes in the sand, which leads to the figure... no? Follow the steps


A tight uncomfortable frame, deep water, deep glance (yes, full view ) , deep thoughts, deep lost....


Well, it's tilting, the focus is out, the contrast is "grey", strong vignette, no subject, so what? Sometimes all these defects creates a story... the story of the anonymous modern life....


Said the following:

A very sexy nude - her position is somewhere between playful and painful - sensuality is also enhanced by the edit and use of texture.


Unusual angle an a very emotional face expression


One of the most beautiful and poetic photojournalistic statement I have seen on this site - just breathtaking and timeless.


one of my all time faves in the gallery - I have seen OH TOO MANY boat images on DA, but this one is almost a paradigm - the simple composition suggests loneliness, anxiety and a tad of surreal...


a lovely portrait - delicate and penetrating - one of Helen's best...


instant of life - perfectly captured mood of the commuter, and a splendid color rendering

Said the following:


A watcher, a large mind (are those ears… calls your attention beyond to the blur of energy in a distance.
A big head confronted with life ahead.
It seems separate.
It works as a square because keeps the image in a geometric frame.


Take time to see.
geometric shapes are isolated and become abstract, we have a story via the birds…and because it is contained within a square , it prevents the viewer from being distracted. Reminds me of the cliché’ take time to smell the roses.


being a child of the generation where psychedelic images were pop, I am spun into this monochrome swirl, now view with clear eyes.


I see things, as they would appear on walls. This abstraction would work well as wall art.
Spots of colour and movement, Important elements for interest.


I am fascinated by the elements here, simple, subtle and yet
a lot going is going on here. To be able to have a story present in a small frame—is why I appreciate this as is.


I remain convinced that the spotlight on details works marvelously with a square unit.
*

We now introduce our November Interviewee:


1.Introduce yourself - when did you start photography, who are you apart from a dA member?
My name is Stephane, I’m 37 years old and live in the south of Finland, however, I’m a French Breton. I started being interested in photography during my military service, in 1994 with a friend who was photographer. He showed me the dark room, his camera and passion and I started being interested of getting a reflex camera, which I got in 1995, a fully manual cheap reflex camera. I’ve been learning since that time, with a short break until I get my first digital camera in 1996 (and stopped smoking by the way). Internet and lately DA have been a good help for showing my photos and for pushing me to improve myself.

2.Why is it that you present your images in square format as opposed to landscape/portrait perspective?

A good square picture feels so finished, balanced... It won’t fall. It’s a question of feelings and it’s difficult to explain.

3.Do you own a medium format camera? Which one, if the case... if no, when and how do you decide on square (before/after shot, with the subject...)?
I have recently bought a medium format camera: Mamiya RB67. But this camera doesn’t make squares, just 6x7 or 6x4.5. I use the 6x4.5 size. But with this camera it’s very easy to build a square before you shoot, as there are the lines of the square in the focusing screen. In general I decide with the subject will it be square, landscape or portrait format. This medium format camera allows a twist of the back for getting the right format.


4.Do you view yourself as a square freak? How do you think *SixbySix is helping square loving photographers?

I don’t view myself as a square freak, I can use other format too and it doesn’t hurt.
The club is a very good help for introducing to new artists and for promoting the square format, as it is an artistic choice.

5.Do you photograph a mirror or a window? What are you attempting to show in your photography?
I feel I photograph both: a mirror and a window. As I try to photograph the things the way I feel them, so I guess there’s a lot of myself in the pictures while it’s also a window to the world I’m living in. My emotional world is really touched by elements, seasons and the changing nature (Finland is a beautiful place for that) and this is what inspires me the most. We’re living in a wonderful world but I feel we’re too far from it, from the mother-nature, from the elements and I’d like myself to be back part of it, to be part of the wind, of the snow, the water…

6.Your inspiring square works/artists on dA?

Some of them *Hengki24 =chocolatenoir =menoevil :iconxavierey: =petitescargot *Loucos