Do I consciously follow the rules of photography?
No.
Do I subconsciously follow them?
Absolutely.
The so-called “rules” of photography are born from logic and visual psychology. When we are truly immersed in our craft, our instincts naturally align with these principles.
Take light, for example. Human eyes are naturally drawn to the brightest point in any scene — whether we’re viewing a painting, a photograph, or simply walking down the street.
In photography, we can harness this instinct by using light to guide the viewer’s attention exactly where we want it to go. Here I guide the light straight into the centre of the anemone.
I recently saw a black-and-white photograph in which the subject was placed in a darker area of the frame. My eyes, however, were pulled instead toward a bright but empty corner. A missed opportunity — the light led me away from what mattered. Conversely Alan Schaller is an absolute master of light. I hugely encourage you to explore his work.
Another foundational principle that I rely on instinctively, is the power of leading lines. Notice how the angle of the shadows and light complement the below composition, directing the eye toward the central subject — the very spot where I want the viewer to land.
Here is use both light and lines to frame the subject.
I’m not suggesting you obsess over the rules. What I am encouraging is that you pay attention to light and lines in your images, no matter the genre — portraiture, street photography, architecture, anything. Pause. Look. Adjust. And then click.
A front on shot of the soldiers would have been far less interesting than this angled approach.
It was a super hot day in Montpellier, France and everyone wanted ice-cream! Instead of shooting front on I used the line of customers to encourage the eye to slide along them.
And if you’re thinking, “But what about street photography? It’s too fast-moving for that!” — to the contrary, you can scan the environment first: find a patch of beautiful light, intersecting with interesting shapes or structures. Then wait. Someone compelling will eventually walk into your frame. That’s your moment!
Here I saw the poster in an airport and I waited for a figure to walk through to add to the story of goodbyes.
Preparation is the real secret — and preparation becomes second nature with practice. Keep showing up. Keep looking. And let your instincts do the rest.
Here I purposefully chose my hour to capture the swans, knowing I would have good light on the water.
Likewise I planned my shooting position in order to have the light on the swimmer’s goggles and to accentuate the air bubbles.
Follow this link to explore my latest fine art flower photography. And my ‘random’ photography can be seen here on Instagram.
And if you’re interested to stay updated on my photography tips, click the contact button to subscribe.