In photography, rules act as guidelines to assist individuals in reaching a set of standards regulated by the general public. These include the rule of thirds, not cutting off joints, creating patterns, having a clear focus, etc. On the other hand, breaking the rules is only adopting a new viewpoint that permits you to avoid limiting your creativity. Everyone unconsciously complies with the regulations in the belief that it is correct, but I have a different viewpoint. For instance, “Library” can be considered a poor image because it is tilted and overexposed. I do, however, like it. The tilted frame is only a new pattern, while the overexposure emphasizes the light.
Additionally, “ES Theatre” also does not follow the photography rules (I did that unconsciously) because it has too much negative space on top. Yet, the other components, like the patterns of the tables and lights, adhere to the guidelines, so it is still appealing. Therefore, it is possible to break the rules because when taking this photo, I did not realize there was too much negative space; I viewed it as a pattern similar to the marks on the stored-away seats on the left.
Furthermore, “Tree” violates the rule of not revealing the entire frame. However, this “bad” photo, judged by the public, is a “good” photo to me as it creates a feeling of suspense, triggering me to be curious about what the whole picture looks like. Therefore, deliberately breaking the rules is a good idea, as you are simply allowing yourself to imagine beyond.
Lastly, context is essential in photography. Context gives the viewer a purpose for the picture. Without it, the artist would not have entirely conveyed their message, leaving the audience confused. Take the photo “Wrong,” for example. Initially, when we had not seen the word “wrong,” my partner and I disliked this image because of the various elements we could spot that were disorienting to us, such as the leaves that were not cut out and how the artists placed the subject right in the middle. Yet, after seeing that the structure was intentional and supposed to be “wrong,” this image regained our favor.
My opinion before seeing the word “wrong.” – I’m not too fond of this picture. Firstly, there’s a lot of wasted blank space that could have been used effectively. Additionally, the structure is strange and has no viewpoint or focus. Lastly, there are a lot of left bits (leaves and car) that are cut out. However, I like how the image is vintage.