When I started this hobby, I didn’t know there were rules, and it was a good thing. I probably would have walked away from any type of constraint. I just enjoyed taking pictures, composing and learning about my camera.

Ritva’s challenge this week has us finding images where we successfully broke the rules–or maybe unsuccessfully! How many of us keep the images that didn’t work? I throw them out, keeping only the best or the ones I like. Those are my excuses for not finding total rule breaking images in my archives.

I chose 2020 for my search because it was sort of midway in my photographic journey. Here’s what I found.

These poppies are totally centered. You might say I filled the frame, but only because I cropped in too tight.

It’s never a good idea to photograph wildlife from the rear, but look at the way this hawk has it’s head turned.

And should the horizon line be in the center of the frame? Maybe it’s okay when the sky is as fantastic as the ground.

Never shoot into the sun! Unless….

Is zooming breaking the rules? I don’t know. I just have fun with it.

And what about moving the camera while the shutter is open? You might get a scrambled jumble of color.

And finally, I think this was a cactus. I don’t know what I did to get this picture.

I think photographic rules are meant to be broken. I basically understand the rule of thirds and not to place the horizon line in the center of the composition; the rest is a mystery to me. I just compose the picture the way I like it.

Thanks Ritva for this soul searching topic. It really was a difficult challenge–at least for me! When you share your response, please link to her post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week Sofia challenged us to post cinematic pictures which was an equally difficult challenge. I enjoyed seeing all your creativity. Next week Egidio will be leading the challenge, so look for his post on Saturday.

In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!

64 thoughts on “Lens Artists Challenge #347: Break the Rules”

  7. Anne, you make it sound so easy. I’m still struggling with what I’ll do for the challenge. Your photos are, naturally, very artistic. The sun, the flower, the horizon line, everything is beautiful.

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    1. Thanks Egidio! It wasn’t easy. Here’s a hint for you since you’re a great photographer. Go positive and let us know how you composed the picture. Twist it!

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  13. Great examples, Anne.

    I didn’t know you’re not supposed to put the horizon in the centre 😀

    I have several of those. Mainly reflection photos of land and water. I delete most of my bad photos, but there’s still a few examples somewhere in my photo library.

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    1. Thanks Vicki! I don’t think reflections of land and water refer to a horizon line, The horizon line typically refers to sky and land–I think. A water reflection needs the land mass to show that it is a reflection. This stuff gets confusing. We just need to go with what we like.

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  14. I don’t know why they call them rules, when I used to teach I always refered to them as guides, good to use when appropriate, but sometimes a composition doesn’t work when you used them. Obviously you are doing really well not knowing what they were and just doing your own thing, great set of images Anne.

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  15. Fabulous rule-breaking shots, Anne! I didn’t know much about rules either when I started snapping pics. But I did learn to keep the horizon straight or level when shooting water scapes from a pro photographer. I love how you don’t know how you captured your abstract cactus! Well done on all of these and I appreciate the explanations of the rules you broke 😁

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    1. Thanks Terri! Some of these rules are just common sense and what looks good to you as the photographer. I’m glad you liked the cactus. I have a feeling that was from the WPA Rock Garden. Did you hear that the zoo isn’t moving? It just got too expensive.

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  17. Breaking rules with a camera—definitely the perfect recipe for beautiful chaos!
    Who needs perfect compositions when you’ve got poppies, hawks with bold head turns, and mysterious cactus shots? Keep those rule-breaking moments; they’re the ones that make the journey fun! 📸
    Philo

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  20. Obviously you know intuitively the rules as you have been looking and taking at photos for a a long time – and it shows in these images. They are great and they break the rules with style – It’s never a good idea to photograph wildlife from the rear, but sometimes that is the only shot you can get, at least in my case. but look at the way this hawk has it’s head turned towards you. Great shot Anne

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    1. Thanks Ritva! Sometimes the natural design of an animals rear is so interesting and beautiful you just want to take the shot. This happened with an Okapi at the zoo. I was about to take the picture and, fortunately, he turned his head toward me just in time.

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  22. An interesting variety of picture. Breaking the rules worked well. I especially liked the photo of the hawk’s face looking backwards.

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  23. I agree, centring the horizon is definitely a good thing on occasion, when the sky deserves equal showing with the land 🙂 And the ‘keep the sun behind you’ rule is one I would like to see struck off the ‘rule books’ as it always results in flat, less interesting shots, whereas, as your shot demonstrates, backlighting can be beautiful!

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    1. Thanks Steve! Don’t I wish I could turn my head like that. I always told my kids and grandkids that I have eyes in the back of my head. I just have great hearing!

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  27. Like you, rules are not to my liking at the outset, but once you “get” what you are doing they make sense so you can break them deliberately!!

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    1. I guess I just don’t think of composition too much. I think more about it during processing, like cropping so the subject is in the right place. I try to not crop tightly in camera so I have the room to edit more.

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