As photographers we talk a lot about the “right” way to do something…about “the rules”. However, we’re firm believers here at TBL that rules were made to be broken. How rebellious of us, right? Well before you fall right out of your seat in surprise there is one small caveat to that statement. Rules are made to be broken, only after you have learned the rules. And also, we should probably follow that up with a short disclaimer: there are of course some rules, like the speed limit, that are not meant to be broken. Rule breaking, in this case, applies only to photography. 

So with all that said, let’s talk about a few of the traditional photography rules and how you can start breaking them! 

<h4>Light</h4> 

The standard “rule” of shooting in natural light is to always shoot with the sun behind you. But that rule seems a bit obsolete these days when actually its more about “playing” with the light rather than following the rules. When you start using the light to your advantage in your shots, they begin to take on a totally new dimension. 

One typical way of breaking the light rule is shooting with the sun behind your subject for a silhouette. Silhouettes are a great way to create a dramatic photograph, without following the rules. Additionally you could shoot a shadow silhouette, which is another fun way to play with natural light. Remember that silhouettes are more effective when the subject is striking a meaningful pose. That could be anything from jumping in the air, standing serenely in the sea, dancing, playing with a pet, among countless other options – just try shooting with the light behind and in front of your subject and see what happens. 

<h4>Composition</h4>

You’ve all heard of the rule of thirds, yes? That is the idea that if you were to divide a photograph into 9 equal parts (two dividing lines both horizontal and vertical), that your composition will look better when the subject is placed along one of the lines. Equally the rule of thirds states that horizon lines, or the natural focal point (if there is one) should also be aligned with the dividers. 

But, there are some instances when you can consider ditching the rule of thirds and going for a slightly different composition. Still life’s are a good example of this, or anytime you are shooting something from directly above. For instance, if you’re shooting a bowl of fruit on it’s own, you can put it into the center of your composition for a dramatic effect. Another good time to consider breaking the rule of thirds is when your subject has a natural frame around it. Perhaps your subject is standing in a doorway or is surrounded by trees, buildings, cars, etc. If you use what is surrounding your subject naturally as a frame, the rule of thirds becomes less important. 


A good rule of thumb is to shoot your subject both ways – use the rule of thirds for more “traditional” photos and then move on to trying out new things for a more creative composition.   

<h4>Shooting Abstractly</h4> 

It’s common to think that a subject always looks best from the front, and when you can see clearly what the subject is. In many cases this is true, however there are some instances when shooting from behind, or shooting an abstract part of a subject will not only create a dramatic image, but can also give the viewer a new perspective of the scene.

Of course, we’re not really suggesting that you simply photograph the back of people’s heads and call it good. The idea is to capture a mood, or a scene or a feeling. Perhaps you are watching a concert or a show and you can frame the subject in the distance in between silhouettes of the audience. Consider finding interesting angles to frame your subject by shooting from a different perspective. 

This is another great rule to break when photographing buildings and other architecture…you don’t always have to see the whole building to get an idea of what the building looks like. Sometimes an abstract closely cropped image will be more effective than a wide-angle view of the whole scene. 

<h4>Focal Points</h4> 

One final rule to consider breaking is the idea that the subject of your photo must always be in focus. When you shoot, consider taking your camera out of autofocus and creating a sense of depth by focusing on something small in front of the subject. Your subject will be seen in the background as if it is “hinting” towards setting the scene. This technique works particularly well with food photography and landscape photography. 

If you’ve found a beautiful landscape, where you want to make a flower in the foreground your focal point, focus in using aperture priority mode. You’ll want to shoot with a low number, start at the lowest number and work your way up. 

So, now you know the rules and you’re ready to break them…start making things up as you go along. Some of the greatest photographers to date have broken the rules and created beautiful images in doing so. Start rule breaking people…there’s absolutely no one to put you in detention or give you a time out. Isn’t being a grown up fun? 
