This week for the Lens artist challenge Ritva says, “…in order to break a rule, you must know that there is a rule in the first place!”
I looked up some common photography rules and found a recent photo I made that I believe breaks all these rules!
Here are the rules I broke, albeit unintentionally, in this photo:
1. Rule of Thirds: Divide the frame into a 3×3 grid and place key elements along the lines or at their intersections.
2. Leading Lines: Use natural lines (roads, fences, shadows) to guide the viewer’s eye toward the subject.
3. Framing: Use objects (windows, trees, arches) to frame the subject and draw attention to it.
4. Symmetry and Patterns: Center symmetrical scenes or emphasize repeating patterns for visual appeal.
5. Fill the Frame: Get close or zoom in to remove distractions and focus on the subject.
6. Negative Space: Leave empty space around the subject to highlight it and create mood or simplicity.
7. Depth: Create layers using foreground, subject, and background to give a sense of three-dimensionality.
8. Rule of Odds: Groups of three or five tend to be more visually pleasing than even-numbered groupings.
9. Background Control: Choose a simple or complementary background that doesn’t compete with the subject.
10. Lighting Awareness: Pay attention to the direction, quality, and color of light. Golden hour (just after sunrise or before sunset) often gives the best light.
I tend to take photos that break these rules while I am walking through a wooded area because there is no defined single subject, symmetry, negative space or simple background. There is just a beautiful scene of nature at her best – strong upright trees interspersed with fallen ones, growth among decay, and a sense of becoming lost in the web of branches.
Do you have a photo that breaks the “rules”? Join in the challenge and let us see!
Offshoots Photography 
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