Portrait vs. Landscape Video: Choo Ann NGOH Shares a Wild Encounter

In a recent LinkedIn post, Choo Ann NGOH shares a humorous and relatable anecdote about a wildlife encounter, prompting a discussion on the practicalities of video recording, specifically the debate between portrait and landscape modes. The post, which begins with a lighthearted confession about her struggles with her “henfone” (smartphone), details an unexpected run-in with monkeys outside her home.

The Monkey Incident and the Urge to Record

Choo Ann NGOH recounts a moment when her dog, Coco, began barking intensely. Upon investigation, she discovered a group of monkeys outside her gate, seemingly provoking Coco. After securing her dog, her immediate concern shifted to documenting the event. As Choo Ann NGOH explains:

“And then I suddenly thought eh, if it is not recorded, it means it never happened”

This sentiment highlights a common modern dilemma: the instinct to capture and share experiences, especially unusual ones. Choo Ann NGOH’s immediate reaction was to grab her phone to record the scene, underscoring the desire for proof and a record of events.

Choosing the Right Video Mode: Portrait or Landscape?

The core of Choo Ann NGOH’s post revolves around the practical decision of how to orient her phone for recording. Faced with the monkey situation, she deliberated on the best approach. According to Choo Ann NGOH:

“Then I thought landscape mode means it would be wider, easier for me to get the monkeys on video”

This thought process reveals a practical consideration for capturing action – landscape mode offers a broader field of view, which can be advantageous for subjects that are moving or spread out, as monkeys often are. However, she also admits to starting the recording in portrait mode, indicating a split-second decision driven by the urgency of the moment.

The Role of Context in Recording Choices

Choo Ann NGOH’s experience prompts a broader question about how context influences our choices when recording. While landscape is often preferred for cinematic or wider-view content, portrait mode has become dominant for social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Her post playfully acknowledges this by noting:

“So dats why this video began in portrait but but but ended up in landscape lor 🙈🙊🙉”

This candid admission resonates with many users who have experienced similar moments of indecision or adaptability when trying to capture content on the fly. The anecdote serves as a humorous reminder that sometimes, the best recording is the one that actually gets made, regardless of perfect technical execution.

Engaging the Community with Questions

Concluding her post, Choo Ann NGOH opens the floor to her network, posing several engaging questions to encourage interaction and shared experiences. She asks her followers:

• “have you encountered any wildlife conflict with humans before?”
• “If yes, did you record it or not?”
• “If yes, did you use portrait or landscape mode wor?”

These questions invite her audience to reflect on their own experiences with unexpected events and their choices in documenting them, fostering a sense of community and shared learning around a seemingly simple, yet often debated, technical aspect of mobile videography.