Why rectangular?

[Heroique]

This Fibonacci (golden ratio) spiral resting inside a rectangle, close to 2:3, is from an old post by Jim Kitchen.

It might be an argument for a rectangular crop whose visual appeal is inborn to Homo sapiens sapiens, not taught by one of its many cultures. (I think saying "sapiens" twice is necessary for the aesthetic context here). ;^)

Could be a combination – inborn, then reinforced by culture.

[Leigh]

(I think saying "sapiens" twice is necessary for the aesthetic context here). ;^)

Saying "sapiens" once is an unjustified exaggeration.

Saying it twice is an unbridled fantasy.

- Leigh

[paulr]

Let's see:

Super Slides = 4x4cm
Rollei/Hassy = 6x6 cm
shot lots of 5x5" aerial roll film in the USAF as well as 10 x 10"

Not all are rectangular. But most view cameras are.

Geometrically speaking, a square is a rectangle (but not vice-versa).

[paulr]

The golden section is one of many popular rectangles. Others are based on ratios derived from simple geometric shapes, or from the harmonic series (there's a lot of overlap between the two). Robert Bringhurst's excellent Elements of Typographic Style has a fascinating chapter on classical proportions. He points out similar shapes/ratios being popular with cultures that had no cross-polination.

[Roger Cole]

Saying "sapiens" once is an unjustified exaggeration.

Saying it twice is an unbridled fantasy.

- Leigh

Good one. But at least one "sapiens" is needed to identify the correct species of hominid, whether the description is accurate or not.

[Leigh]

But "sapiens sapiens" is not A species... It's a hybrid of five species.

- Leigh

[Jac@stafford.net]

Robert Bringhurst's excellent Elements of Typographic Style has a fascinating chapter on classical proportions

Another gem from the wisdom of the 'net. Thank you so much, Paul.

[Bill Burk]

I always think of telescopes and microscopes when I see circular images.

And binoculars when they are lazy figure eight.

[Darin Boville]

Because frames, like the walls they sort of pretend to be, are easier to build and thus more commonly found as rectangles?

--Darin

[StoneNYC]

*sigh*

Aren't most of you old guys from back when photography first started? Hah!

But seriously.... Because. Glass window panes were rectangular... Which is where glass plates came from... They built the camera around the easily available and already in production items....