Breaking All the Rules

We have talked about a number of tips and tricks to help take your photography to the next level. But photography is still an art form, and that means that there are no rules. The “rule of thirds” and other helpful hints are simply meant to be guidelines so you can get out there and experiment on your own.

Some of my favorite images are ones in which I broke all the rules of composition, exposure, and subject placement (Figures 8.25 through 8.27). If you feel that a scene calls for something unique, don’t hesitate to throw out everything you have learned and try something new, for that is how you truly grow as an artist.

Figure 8.25. I broke the rule of thirds to showcase more of the starlit sky over Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia.

Figure 8.26. During a snowstorm in Denver, I captured this image of a lone tree struggling to hold on. I love the contrast of the dark bark of the tree against the white snow.

Figure 8.27. This photo was composed in a way that is meant to evoke an emotional response from the viewer.