The #1 Photography Rule You Can't Break

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[paulbenson]

I tried and tried and tried to work to the rules of photography, and it didn't work for me. I was losing the pleasure of my photography because I spent so much time trying to apply the rules of photography. My joy is my photography, so I chucked the rules away, gasp, gulp, and photographed the way I wanted to. I decided that these were my photographs so why shouldn't I have full control of my work? It is what I see and what I feel that is important to me, so my only rule is to be true to myself.

[chad_collver]

I absolutely just love this channel. I’ve been watching for a year and every time I feel like I’m sitting with a mentor for a casual talk. Thank you so much 🙏

[SikandersDesiVlogs]

I just love the way you open our minds with such a logical chain of toughts, thank you for giving us such precious tips and advices. There is so much information out there and when we listen to you we just want to listen more because you speak of experience and with your guts. Once again thank you

[JohnDrummondPhoto]

I'm a big believer in both subtle vignettes and subtle highlights. Sometimes I use both in the same image. I aim to draw the eye to where I want it without screaming it. Radial filters are much better for this than the vignette slider most editing apps have, since you can control both placement and feathering.

[paulakotula]

Your videos are really speaking to me today it's like my pc was reading my mind while i was editing some portraits! First it was black and white photography then vignettes. So crazy. Thank you thank you! Your style of presentation for some reason reminds me of being in church and listening to a gospel and i mean that in the most positive way possible!

[cninh]

I think another choice that can lead to people spending little time with an image is a lack of selectivity. I went to the gallery of a photography collective recently and each person had contributed so many photos. A lot of people, myself included, were blocking on from one image to the next very quickly. Having so many things to look at in the same space really gives people a reason to move through the gallery faster.

[Ultrarmx]

Love the illustration of how comic books use where the eye should be looking at.

[Daniel_Zalman]

I think something to strive for is to be intentional about your images. By that I mean taking responsibility for everything in the frame. Often, especially for those interested in portraiture, we focus solely on the subject (guilty to this day), without making sure that there's good figure-to-ground contrast, without making sure there aren't any distracting elements, and without filling the frame as much as we need to to get our idea across.

[GJSsongsmith]

I often use a very subtle vignette it works for me . Everyone is different and will find their own way . These videos are invaluable Alex . The best photographic advice every week . Many thanks 🙏

[tedbrown]

Alex, Great points on composition where in the viewer wants to leave and you want them to stay. I translate that into fine detail of the subject. Blurred / blurry parts of a photo I find very distracting and will leave almost immediately. The transition you spoke of is akin to a transition in writing that we were taught in English class. The end of one paragraph to the beginning of the next to continue the flow of the idea / story.

[andrewrothman]

My #1 rule is: when using a rangefinder, remember to remove the damn lens cap.

[canturgan]

Balance, contrast, tension, harmony, atmosphere, geometry.

[jackcoughlin]

Greeting from the coast of Southern Maine.
I enjoyed your comments regarding avoiding obvious mechanical vignetting.
I avoid the use of vignettes in Lightroom Classic preferring to manually apply subtle vignetting (just like I used to do while exposing the print in the darkroom).

[ddsdss]

Ansel described the process of burning down the edges repeatedly, but used it judiciously. I just reviewed his Examples/The Making of 40 Photographs and few of those feature obvious vignetting--the key word being "obvious." Of course, there are many ways to use vignetting--not just darkening all of the corners. Sometimes a certain degree of lens fall-off works, while in other cases lightening or blurring helps keep the viewer's eyes where you want them. Of course, subtlety (in all aspects of editing) usually produces the best results.

[svitlophoto]

Good evening from Ukraine!
Love to watch your channel even when air sirens screams loud (

[gregsmith]

I like watching your videos about photography. Pls dont stop. Cheers from Poland

[klartext]

You learn to write well by reading. Reading many books. You learn to be a good photographer by watching thousands of pictures. Good pictures. By great photographers. Not by learning many "rules". Every good picture follows at least one rule.

[stevehayward]

I try not to think of composition rules per se, but think about the balance of the image and the very subtle use of vignette with exposure or blurring to help stop the eyes falling off the edge.

[cmichaelhaugh]

Time to review what I’ve been shooting with this in mind.