Principles of photography

[110240]

This post is an information sharing exercise as I'm aware there is heaps of talent on this site and quite often I wish I could learn and maybe even share more.

As Im sure many of you have, I taught myself photography and over the years I picked up lots of interesting pointers (recently from tpf!) to making a better picture. Perhaps one of the more obscure was to take landscapes when the Northeasterly winds blow in the U.K., ...so as to get good air clarity?! Sounds silly but it's true.

Another good example is the rule of thirds... that is the division of an image using two imaginary horizontal lines to make "thirds" and also vertically. Keeping subjects within these guides creates an aesthetically pleasing image.

I'm interested as to what rules/laws/principles y'all know of?

[johnastovall]

The rule of thirds is nonsense as is the golden mean. Forget the so called rule/laws/principles and create your own art.

[110240]

whats your take on keeping verticals vertical and horizontals horizontal?

[JohnT]

I happen to think that all the "rules" are good guidelines that can be broken when done well and appropriately. Experiment with them while creating your images—I think you'll find them useful.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by 110240

whats your take on keeping verticals vertical and horizontals horizontal?

Why? Other than maybe to produce boring photographs or required for archetctrual work for a customer and maybe not even then.

It's about creativity and communication not rules.

[110240]

im a believer that rules are for the obedience of some and the guidance of others. I guess Bart Simpson would say "rules are made to be broken dude!" :) I like both quotes.

I read the "twice the distance from chin to lip above the head" rule on here few day ago... I found it really interesting. Cant say I went out and re-cropped all my images straight away but I did think it was interesting. I told it to my friend at work and he thought it was interesting too.

If you have any rules... please post um...

[Damon]

You don't have to follow the rules, as long as there's a method to your madness. An image doesn't always have to abide by the rule of thirds, or to certain characteristics of a genre (like a portrait), as long as it makes for a pleasing image. Just make sure there's reason for it.

If not, all you have are splats of paint on a canvas. Now unless you're an elephant, I don't consider that art.

[110240]

If youre looking for meaning in art check out the famous British supra-realist Cecil Collins his work is fantastic... i find photography a blend of art and science, but mostly science.

[kenw]

The "Rule of Thirds" is a good guideline to understand how people will perceive your image. Violating it MAY (but certainly won't ALWAYS) cause an image to seem unbalanced, lopsided or uneven. Most folks won't know if an image does or doesn't "conform", they just know if they like it or not.

And it should never be used as a hard and fast rule. But any true artist will understand it and know how it may help the image, and just as importantly when to ignore it.

read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio


and the image that John posted conforms quite well to the rule of thirds.

[CaptainTom]

Commercial photography

rule no. 1 - Beauty is in the eye of the checkbook holder.
rule no. 2 - KISS
rule no. 3 - Have backups of everything.
rule no. 4 - Give the client what he wants, not what you think he needs.
rule no. 5 - never get in a pissing contest about who's rules are better than .....

[12stones]

There's a great guest post on Scott Kelby's blog that kinda relates to this.

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2008/archives/1386

[Terry C]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Commercial photography

rule no. 1 - Beauty is in the eye of the checkbook holder.
rule no. 2 - KISS
rule no. 3 - Have backups of everything.
rule no. 4 - Give the client what he wants, not what you think he needs.
rule no. 5 - never get in a pissing contest about who's rules are better than .....

So, So true.....

might suggest rule no. 6 - never let you assistant talk politics with a client (from personal experience). In fact its a good idea not to let your assistant talk to the client at all.

[Terry C]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

The rule of thirds is nonsense as is the golden mean. Forget the so called rule/laws/principles and create your own art.

Don't be so quick to dismiss the two guides so quickly. Visit any museum of art and you'll see the execution of these principles in most of the artwork displayed along with the use of diagonal lines to create tension, light and dark areas to move objects forward or backward, s-curves to lead the eye, and perspective to name just a few. The human brain responds to certain visual signals and these "guides" help the artist direct that response. As someone else said in an earlier post - rules are meant to be broken if done with a specific goal in mind. Just ignoring the guides for no other reason than you don't want to follow them or believe they are nonsense does not make your art better.

[3n-Out]

I may not make it better but I'm sure it makes it different. All these years of ART and difference is what will separte you from the pack in this day and age.

[Terry C]

Originally Posted by 3n-Out

I may not make it better but I'm sure it makes it different. All these years of ART and difference is what will separte you from the pack in this day and age.

As you said different does not necessarily = good.