Why I’m Moving into Square Format – and Why You’ll Love It

Why I’m Moving into Square Format – and Why You’ll Love It

As you may have noticed, my recent Artistic Coastal Photography is now presented in a square format that I call my SQUARINES. This isn’t just a stylistic change – it’s an intentional decision to enhance your experience as a viewer and collector. I wanted to share the reasons behind this move and how it brings even more clarity, balance, and emotion to the images you love.

1. A Natural Fit for Serenity

A square format brings quiet harmony to an image. With equal height and width, there’s a sense of balance that mirrors the calm of the coast – the stillness of a tidepool, the rhythm of the waves, the grounded beauty of a resting boat. It slows the eye, encourages reflection, and suits the tranquil energy that defines much of my work.

2. Perfect for Modern Display

Whether you’re scrolling on Instagram or curating a gallery wall at home, square images feel clean and modern. They work beautifully in both digital and physical spaces – easy to frame, easy to style. There’s something timeless about a square; it feels composed, intentional, and ready to be lived with.

3. Focus Without Distraction

Square format naturally draws your eye to the centre. It simplifies composition and brings attention to what matters – the colours, the movement, the mood. With less visual noise, the textures of the sea or the sweep of intentional camera movement (ICM) take centre stage, allowing you to feel the image, not just see it.

4. Improved Storytelling

This format allows me to compose more thoughtfully, especially with the abstract and painterly qualities of ICM. Each square becomes a self-contained world, offering a moment of escape and a doorway to memory – something many of my collectors treasure.

5. It Pairs Beautifully

Whether you collect one piece or build a small series, square images sit beautifully side-by-side. They create elegant symmetry and are perfect for small or awkward spaces where a balanced artwork makes all the difference.

I believe in evolving thoughtfully, and this shift to square is part of my ongoing commitment to offer you more than just a picture, but a lasting experience of the coast, framed in a way that enhances your space and your state of mind.

Let me know what you think – and if there’s a favourite image you’d love to see reimagined in this format.

With gratitude,
Paul