My 2 cents worth. For whatever reasons more people are comfortable (prefer?) rectangular pictures vs. square pictures. My complaint with the square format is that it would be too easy FOR ME to compose too tightly to crop into a common rectangular print, although I think if I had a square format camera I would get better with it over time. I remember PPA seminars, and seem to remember a Shutterbug article by Monte Zucker, on "educating" customers on the advantages of square wall hanging enlargements, all the while thinking that I didn't care for the images as square format. Are there shots that work best as a square? Of course there is. Do I often shoot something that I think works best as a square? No. So FOR ME there is little reason to want a square format camera.
As far as certain ratios being a part of nature. I'm sure if you look enough you will find it. I do believe some ratios appear more appealing to more people then others. One of my favorite shots was one that when matted came out to a Golden Section ratio (quite unconsciously) So whatever the reason it appeared pleasing to me. The bottom line is you shoot with what you are comfortable with, you print to how you envision the shot, and shoot to please yourself (or your clients) and viva la difference. BUTCH "Each man had only one genuine vocation - to find the way to himself" Hermann Hesse (Demian)
