"There are no rules in photography"
When I talk about rules (like the rule of thirds), there’s usually someone who’ll say, “there are no rules in photography.” I thought this would be a good time to share my view on this.
Rules in photography are not really “rules.” If you don’t use the rule of thirds, you won’t get punished ;) Don’t let the word “rule” throw you off. Photographers didn’t invent these rules. These are patterns identified by artists centuries ago, and we just happen to use them in photography.
In every other art form, students go through years of training, where they learn the rules. Once they graduate, they’re free to improvise and be spontaneous. But many photographers are self-taught and don’t go through formal training (myself included). Once they become proficient, they realize something interesting: being spontaneous is more fulfilling than following rules. And so they tell beginners that there are no rules in photography. But imagine a pianist telling a student that there are no rules when playing the piano!
Next time you hear someone telling you there are no rules in photography, just remember that they've probably just gone past that stage. If the word "rule" bothers you, don't think of them as rules. They are guidelines. They are patterns. If you are a programmer, you know what design patterns are--commonly occurring themes to keep in mind, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel every day. It's the same in photography. You don't have to use these patterns in every photo. In fact, it is when you start “breaking the rules” do you really start becoming an artist. But...learn the rules and break them intentionally. Don't be breaking them accidentally :)
Hope you have a great rest of the week! I’m exploring California’s central coast, taking a little break from work. Spotted this interesting fruit on a tree. I think it’s an olive? Btw, what rules am I following here? ;)
