Saw this on a shower thoughts post, and now I need to know. The internet has just given me more and more confusing answers so far, so I’m in need of a 1st grade lecture.
In: Technology
In a camera there is something called aperture. By definition, it is the hole or opening where the light enters. This hole/opening is made bigger and smaller by certain controls on your camera. Its what’s used to make a well-balanced photo. Simply though, it’s how a camera receives light. Think of it as the iris of your eye.
When we were first “discovering” and creating cameras, it was found that a circular lens did this job most efficiently, and engineering-wise, it was found to be easier as well (which makes sense, because irises are very efficient).
So why rectangular? Well one is very obvious. Before cameras, in what shape are the vast majority of all paintings? Squares and rectangles. To put on walls, to make canvasses for, to make frames for — these were the easiest shapes.
Secondly, when the camera was being developed, its pictures were made into film. Film came out in strips, so why waste empty space by having circles on this film?
So nowadays, after the initial development of the camera and since we don’t use film anymore or worry about the means to bend wood into wooden frames, why do we still use a rectangle (for the most part)? Because now, it still just makes better pictures. This is because the camera does produce a circular photo at first, but the camera’s rectangular sensor cuts out the outer edges. (In my own personal opinion this is why photos look way different, depth-wise, than in person).
It automatically cuts these edges out because the light has to bend more in order to reach that far. The lights bends so much it leaves behind distortions (or also called aberrations). So essentially, its an automatic edit and focus to made a clearer and proportionate photograph (although smaller).
And lastly, as a another personal note, I think they’re also still rectangle now because pretty much all screens (camera screens, laptop screens, phone screens) are all rectangular too. It just makes sense.
Source: took some classes and took some pics, but please anyone with any edits please let me know 🙂
edit: grammar and also hoping I explained it well OP, if you have any more questions please ask
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