It's OK to Break the Rules
Take a moment and that think about what makes one photo better than another? Many of the standard "rules" of
photography can help you come up with a pleasing image. There is nothing wrong with that. But you don't have to
take the same shot the same way to get a great image.
The truth is that these "standard" images have been proven to be appealing to a
large general audience. For instance, if you take a picture of little Johnny and
something in the background appears to be sticking out of his head in the image,
that picture might be good for a quick laugh, but very few people will find it
appealing. Next imagine going to a photography studio to have family pictures
taken. Lets say the photographer is feeling "creative". He takes the pictures with
dramatic lighting, props, and poses that look nothing like your typical family
portrait .Unless the family requested it, the final images would not be acceptable
to the family. So there is a place and time to follow "the rules".
However, in other situations, you have every right to take pictures the way you
want. You can take pictures off center, too light, even slightly of focus. If it is
something that appeals to you and it is for your own use, then fire away. For
instance, when I took the picture of the crooked tree trunk, I forgot the camera
flash was turned on and set for automatic. Since it was around noon on a clear day when the picture was taken, there
would have been more shadow detail showing on the tree without the flash. But then on the other hand, I'm sure you
get the point...its a picture of a crooked tree trunk. There is nothing too "deep" about it.
Take a moment and that think about what makes one photo better than another? Many of the standard "rules" of
photography can help you come up with a pleasing image. There is nothing wrong with that. But you don't have to
take the same shot the same way to get a great image.
The truth is that these "standard" images have been proven to be appealing to a
large general audience. For instance, if you take a picture of little Johnny and
something in the background appears to be sticking out of his head in the image,
that picture might be good for a quick laugh, but very few people will find it
appealing. Next imagine going to a photography studio to have family pictures
taken. Lets say the photographer is feeling "creative". He takes the pictures with
dramatic lighting, props, and poses that look nothing like your typical family
portrait .Unless the family requested it, the final images would not be acceptable
to the family. So there is a place and time to follow "the rules".
However, in other situations, you have every right to take pictures the way you
want. You can take pictures off center, too light, even slightly of focus. If it is
something that appeals to you and it is for your own use, then fire away. For
instance, when I took the picture of the crooked tree trunk, I forgot the camera
flash was turned on and set for automatic. Since it was around noon on a clear day when the picture was taken, there
would have been more shadow detail showing on the tree without the flash. But then on the other hand, I'm sure you
get the point...its a picture of a crooked tree trunk. There is nothing too "deep" about it.
Easy Basic Photography
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Next take a look at the picture of the little tree against the wall. It breaks the basic picture
composition rules, and the Rule of Thirds in particular. You might ask, why did I even
bother taking that picture? " I dunno." Guess I liked the contrast of color between the tree
and the wall and felt like placing the tree in the corner of the frame. You may or may not
like it, but the point of this article is that it is ok to do things differently at times.
As for the picture of the skyline across the water, I was standing on a dock looking across
the water at the buildings. For no special reason I decided to take the picture the same
way my eyes saw the buildings, between the posts. Naturally, I took the same buildings
without the posts in the pictures, but I actually liked the one with the posts included better.
Sometimes, an offbeat and/or creative image might even appeal to a lot of others. After
all, photography can be an art form.I am not an art critic, but when I see the picture of
Mona Lisa, I can see why it is a famous painting. On the other hand when I see some of
Picasso's work, I think to myself, this guy must have been a nut case. Maybe someone
forgot to tell him the rules. But who cares what I think? His paintings sell for millions of
dollars!
composition rules, and the Rule of Thirds in particular. You might ask, why did I even
bother taking that picture? " I dunno." Guess I liked the contrast of color between the tree
and the wall and felt like placing the tree in the corner of the frame. You may or may not
like it, but the point of this article is that it is ok to do things differently at times.
As for the picture of the skyline across the water, I was standing on a dock looking across
the water at the buildings. For no special reason I decided to take the picture the same
way my eyes saw the buildings, between the posts. Naturally, I took the same buildings
without the posts in the pictures, but I actually liked the one with the posts included better.
Sometimes, an offbeat and/or creative image might even appeal to a lot of others. After
all, photography can be an art form.I am not an art critic, but when I see the picture of
Mona Lisa, I can see why it is a famous painting. On the other hand when I see some of
Picasso's work, I think to myself, this guy must have been a nut case. Maybe someone
forgot to tell him the rules. But who cares what I think? His paintings sell for millions of
dollars!
The same can be said about photo images. "Beauty is in the eyes of the
beholder". One of my family members recently bought a new point and shoot
digital camera and became fascinated with the macro close up mode. Yes, she
took a few photos of flowers, but then she began taking a lot of close up
pictures of human eyes and ears. Not exactly what the average person would
photograph. But here is the weird thing. You couldn't help but to give the
pictures a closer look rather than looking away. It caught the viewers attention
even though they were rather strange looking pictures. I surely would not tell
her she should stop taking those type pictures, especially since she seemed to
be pleased with them.
Check the photography section at your local bookstore or just browse the web
for pictures. You will find books and websites with great "standard" photos,
but you will also see books and sites with all kinds of different subject matter
and photography styles. Some may appeal to you and some may not be
interesting at all. Just remember that there is no truly wrong or right style.
(unless you are taking pictures for someone else. In that case, be nice and try
to give them what they want.) I suggest every photographer should learn a little
about the basic accepted styles of photography. After all, there is a time and
place for it. However, when your creative juices start flowing, don't hold back
on breaking the rules. You could turn out to be the Picasso of modern
photography!
beholder". One of my family members recently bought a new point and shoot
digital camera and became fascinated with the macro close up mode. Yes, she
took a few photos of flowers, but then she began taking a lot of close up
pictures of human eyes and ears. Not exactly what the average person would
photograph. But here is the weird thing. You couldn't help but to give the
pictures a closer look rather than looking away. It caught the viewers attention
even though they were rather strange looking pictures. I surely would not tell
her she should stop taking those type pictures, especially since she seemed to
be pleased with them.
Check the photography section at your local bookstore or just browse the web
for pictures. You will find books and websites with great "standard" photos,
but you will also see books and sites with all kinds of different subject matter
and photography styles. Some may appeal to you and some may not be
interesting at all. Just remember that there is no truly wrong or right style.
(unless you are taking pictures for someone else. In that case, be nice and try
to give them what they want.) I suggest every photographer should learn a little
about the basic accepted styles of photography. After all, there is a time and
place for it. However, when your creative juices start flowing, don't hold back
on breaking the rules. You could turn out to be the Picasso of modern
photography!