CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Is it really the rules that hold back most people from achieving their full potential?

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The medium is the message.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

The OP asked us how we dealt with composition. It's really an interesting question. I used to get a tangled up over it after taking my photography courses.

But after spending several years hanging out with and substituting for the Art1, Art 2, Art 3, and Art 4 teachers at school, hearing what they tell the kids, and seeing what they paint, my attitude has changed quite a bit.

You see, about once each year, they talk for a few days about composition. For two or three weeks, the second year folks look in quite some detail at perspective. The rest of the 144 weeks or so of their high school education, they draw things, paint things, or make things. The goal is enabling, not creating barriers.

Some of the kids choose to enter contests. Discussions around how to do better in competition may involve some discussion around composition. It may also involve discussion about any number of other topics.

Rules of composition do have value. But understanding that value involves where the rules came from. And the answer to that is that someone somewhere said, "that is a very cool looking picture." Someone else then was bold enough to ask, "Why is it so good?" Discussion or researcb then led to it's being divided into 9 squares, each used in a specific way. Or whatever. All of a sudden, "POOF." Rules of composition. But no real magic involved.

Also...I encourage anyone who reads anything I post to also read my signature block. It has said the same thing for at least a couple of years and is fairly important.

Bill_de Loc: US

With the many times you speak for or about most everybody, it must take you weeks to mail out all your Christmas cards.

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That stuff was nevvvvvuh on my mind. Reciting cliches is for hobbyists.
We had our own paint shop.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

How dreadful: to try to succeed in photography and have no idea of the rules.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read my signature line. I speak for no one but myself. I am sick of this idiotic nonsense.

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And the next 19.5% is "f/8".

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SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Once again missing the point. I looked at your signature block.

“My goal is for others to have the knowledge to wisely choose their own way to do things.”

Nice words, but in reality it’s wrong-headed opinions rather than knowledge you’re trying to foist on others.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Sometimes the rules only seem silly because you're not the photographer you think you are.

srt101fan

Your post is a reply to Linda's counter to your earlier comment re the lack of artistic value in architectural photography.(*) That comment of yours was remarkably irrational and deserving of a rebuttal. Linda did that. You "replied" to her with totally irrelevant verbiage. Why couldn't you stick to the issue of Linda's post (architectural photography)?


(*) "Photographing architecture is like photographing statues. Its derivative, not artistic. And of course there are exceptions, but not very many. But it's still much more documentation or photojournalism than artistry..."

Latsok Loc: Recently moved to Washington State.

I use my own artistic license and frame my pictures the way I like to envision the final product to look like. It differs from picture to picture, but usually ends up fairly close to one of the options mentioned in the questioned post. What works in landscape photography vs street photography, vs people shots, vs monochrome, etc varies considerably. I approach my photography as a visual artistic product, not a cookie cutter, rule-constraining, right/wrong straight jacket. But that's just me! 😜

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Have you considered if the stupid rules were written for you?

srt101fan

We spent a couple of days in Lubec a few (many?) years ago. Yes to the natural beauty! And also yes to the off the beaten path. But being a little harder to find and get to is a distinct asset, isn't it. I'm sure you all don't want to end up with Camden's people and car traffic!

All the best to you and family in this new year. And post more pictures!

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Where composition is concerned, the ultimate guide comes in the form of well developed instincts and the ability to envisage different possibilities. Perhaps the "rules" were intended to give some sort of guidance to those who have yet to develop the required instincts and imagination.

Latching on to those so-called rules would be a mistake because the ultimate objective is to develop our own perception of what works well and what works not so well. To get that far we need to get past the "rules" mentality.