What is the purpose of rules in photography?

    Following rules in photography generally makes your photos more understandable and visually appealing for the audience. Rules can also introduce new photographers to the basic principles of photography, building a foundation of photography knowledge for them to utilize in more creative ways in the future.

In your mind, what are some of the most important rules in photography?

    Focus and light, in my opinion, are the most important rules in photography. Focus is important because it draws the audience’s attention to what the photographer chooses to emphasize. This can strengthen the message the photographer is trying to convey, or just make the photo easier to understand and more appealing to the audience. Focus also often helps the audience develop a stronger impression of the photo since only the most important element (s) are emphasized. Light is important because light is a large determining factor for the mood of photos. Knowing how to manipulate the source and quantity of light gives you much more control over what emotions you want to convey through your photos.

When might it be a good idea to deliberately break the rules?

    When an idea or message will be best conveyed without the constraint of a certain rule, if you think your photo will look better not following rules, or if breaking the rules is part of your intent.

Do you think it is possible to break rules if you don’t know they exist?

    Yes, rules exist even without we knowing so it is possible to break rules if you don’t know they exist since rules exist without us knowing so. But you won’t know that you were breaking the rules.