The first rule of photography I remember learning is probably the same one that everyone was told, which is to position yourself with the sun behind you. Since then, I’ve learned more about composition, the rule of thirds, not centering an object, and leading your eye into a scene.
I can’t say that I really think much about these rules before I take a photo though. And with the ability to crop our own photos, it is easy to edit an image and make it more visually pleasing post shooting your photo.
I am participating in my second online course with Kat Eye Studio. One of Kat's recent posts included her photo of a scooter, which only shows part of the scooter. I have noticed lately, that it isn’t always necessary to show the complete subject in a photo. Having a piece of it missing is ok. Maybe it even helps to draw your eye into the photo. I don't know if this was ever a photography rule or not, but probably one of mine.
It's ok if you don't see the entire flower and all of the petals
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or if you can't see the entire balloon in this photo
or even the entire bodies of these children
Thankfully, I don't think I have any preconceived photgraphy rules that are holding me back in this journey. And believe me, I have always been a rule follower. ♥
hi phyllis,
ReplyDeletei so agree with you. I think it adds so much to the photo to have just a part of the image showing. love your macro shot of the flower! and the kids jumping in the water is so precious!
Hi Phyllis, I love the impact that only having part of a subject gives! All these images show how this is true.
ReplyDeleteI like the way that the bee has become the most important thing in the centre of that vibrant red flower. Sometimes we just have to choose what we wish to bring forward, don't we?
I Love the vibrant colours of the background in the balloon picture and how the balloons seem to be bobbing in my face!!
In the last picture, you've given the importance to the water vapour coming up in front of the legs of the children.
It's good that you know some of the rules in photography, so that you can work your way around them and not feel hemmed in by them.
I seem to break and make rules without knowing them! Ignorance is bliss! Well, some of the time!
Photo cropping really does come to our aid, doesn't it?
I enjoyed my visit here and I'm learning so much through the photos of all the participants in our course!
Sandra
Oh yes! All of these photographs are just so much more interesting with only part of the subject in them. What an inspiring post this is. I particularly like the last one with the swimming trunks and the hose.
ReplyDeleteNice, I love that philosophy and I think it really works and it much more creative! Great photos!
ReplyDeleteWow-that flower shot is stunning! So is the balloon.Great job!
ReplyDeleteHi Phyllis, I like what you pointed out in this lesson, very inspiring images. Love the children one. Looking forward to sharing more.
ReplyDeleteNicely done Phyllis! You chose perfect examples for your discussion. Having the whole subject in the photo is a rule that we often adapt from somewhere. I don't know where exactly, because it's not taught in photography that I can tell, but I've come across it many times and seen the change in my own work when I abandoned that rule. Want to know a secret? The whole scooter was in that photo as-captured. And it was BORING! So I did a creative crop. It was from early in my time in Italy, before I was improving to get creative capture in camera, so it's interesting you mentioned that one. :) If you haven't seen this Exploring with a Camera, you might like it: http://kateyestudio.com/2011/09/exploring-with-camera-process-of.html
ReplyDeleteI too have come to appreciate letting the subject draw your eye right out of the photo...you have captured this "rule" beautifully. I think we are coming up with a new set of rules...the unrules. thanks. Gail
ReplyDeleteThe unrules - lol I like it!
ReplyDeleteHi Phyllis, your photos are fabulous, with portions of the whole! Cropping in software, or just getting in close with the camera helps us create special looks and feels to photos, doesn't it? The clever one is the kids in shorts/trunks! And the balloon is way more fun to look at without all - my eye goes right to the ears! What a fun collection! Thanks for sharing - you encourage me to keep cropping.
ReplyDeleteBeverly
Hi Phyllis,
ReplyDeleteI really like your cropping of images. It makes all of these captures original and intriguing looking! It definitely is a sophisticated and artistic way to view a subject.
I love these shots - particularly the flower and balloon shots. I really like you have cropped them. What is it they say 'less is more'. Adds so much interest to them.
ReplyDelete