Are rules meant to be broken!

H

Horse

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Kevin
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After doing photography for over 40 years, I have now come to the conclusion that there are too many rules and regulations as far as this art is concerned.

I've always thought that photography is a matter of personal opinion and taste, similar to how an artist would paint! I should imagine that if a certain photo was shown to a room of a dozen photographers, each opinion would be different. Therefore, I believe that as photographer we will always agree to disagree!

Is there such a photographic law that must be obeyed regarding how much light is used or whether contrast should be increase or decreased? How much colour saturation is used or if the photo fits into the 'Rule of the Thirds'?

I am reminded of such artists as Warhol or Picasso who became famous for shall we say 'the unusual' approach. Plus, I am sometimes amazed at published photos of some of the well known photographers that (in my opinion) are questionable.

Does anyone else share my opinions here?

Sincerely
Old Misery Guts.
 
I agree with you, speaking as an artist, firstly the painting must satisfy you, secondly the buyer, thirdly any other viewer. Achieving the first two is possible, satisfying the third group in it's entirety probably not. Having managed the first two on numerous occasions I'm not too worried if the third group aren't unanimous.

The same applies to photography, the first person to satisfy is the photographer, and since it is frequently a personal target, whilst nice to have the approbation of one's peers, it isn't essential.
 
in short, yes. as long as they are not forum rules
 
Hello Old Misery Guts.

If you are shooting for an assignment and getting paid, follow the guidelines, if it's personal, it's your rules :thumbs:
 
Horse said:
After doing photography for over 40 years, I have now come to the conclusion that there are too many rules and regulations as far as this art is concerned.
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Firstly, rules are there to be broken ("as long as they are not forum rules":razz:) and secondly, I always think of them as guidelines - I've seen many posts/tutorials etc stating, for example, that the rule of thirds is a general rule and that sometimes it helps a picture to ignore it depending on the subject/content.

There are also basic 'rules' in art so that's, in some respects a moot point - and there are also art critics (from the professional critic to those who 'just know what they like).

As has been said before, there are photographers/artists on a commission and there are photographers/artists doing their own thing - that does make a difference in many cases, I suspect.
 
I was once told by a man of considerable experience that “rules are for the guidance of the wise and the blind obedience of fools”
 
Well personally, judging by some of the photographs that are winning competitions nowadays, I think that from now on I will be sticking two fingers up to the rules!
 
It is only since joining this forum that I was aware of the rule of thirds. Whilst it has helped with my composition. It doesn't mean I always stick to it.

Most probably breaking loads of other "rules" I am not aware of. Do I care not one jot my photography is primarily for me. Occasionally for others, so I do what I can. If we all liked/did the same thing life would be very boring.
 
Whilst we're on the subject, who makes up all these bloody rules anyway?
 
I take photos to my liking, so if a rule needs to be broken to match what I want to capture, then so be it...

On a side note, most of the time I don't agree with the winners of competitions (outside TP)...
 
Horse said:
Whilst we're on the subject, who makes up all these bloody rules anyway?
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For the Rule of thirds you can take your pick : Ancient Greeks . . . Fibonacci . . . you could even argue it was "Mother Nature" . . .

Mike Jackson said:
Matty
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:lol: :lol: :lol:
but yeah, you're probably right - it's Matty :D
 
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There are some rules that can't be broken, the inverse square law of light for example, these are physical rules you can't alter. But I suspect you mean things like the " rule" of thirds, stuff like that, I'll break these every day if it suits me, they are not really rules in the true sense, rather guideline to help.
 
If youre happy with your own photos then that's all that matters, sod everyone else, if they don't like it they can lump it.

Stick a perfect photo (whatever that is) here on TP it's guaranteed some will find faults in it.
 
I like breaking rules but then I'm a brat! ;)

The Royal Photographic Society don't like blown whites and I knew I was chancing my arm when I submitted an LRPS panel with one image very heavy on blown whites. (Well what IS a girl to do shooting into strong summer sunshine?) The subject was perfectly exposed, just the background kind of melted away into the blown white.

Well it did cause some debate among the judges but they allowed it on the basis that it had been so deliberately done they could see the artistic merit in what I had done and it was not simply due to a lack of control on my part.

BUT is was a split decision on that one image 3/2, two judges simply would not allow it because of blown whites.

And when rules get in the way of artistic expression then it gets my goat! :)
 
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I have always broken 'craft rules', since I was an apprentice, I was shown how to do it 'by the rules', then watched the journeymen as they did it the 'proper way' as they said :lol:

My Father, told me, if you dont know 'the rules' or what is 'the norm', they cant be broken . . . ? He broke may etiquette rules in his life, never offended anyone and made a packet for those he worked for . . . never got a fair reward for his efforts!

I do 'it my way', mostly, ignore malicious critique, accept good advise, spiting out the bones . . . and then move on with new ideas from the help received. I have this year taken a couple of real malicious kickings photographically . . . one (not from TP) nearly resulting in me dumping my tog kit in the bin :bang:

Conclusion, rules are better 'bent', so as not to offend? rather than broken, I'm still trying to produce that perfect picture. In my humble opinion, I did better, back when I new little or nothing of rules per-say . . . these days, I'm to busy to worry, so my pictures are best described as snaps that 'sometimes work', those are the ones that people see . . . :shrug:

One looks forward to the days when I can be more considerate and confident of my methods and picture taking in general . . . CJS
 
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