Fortnightly Challenge September 5 Through 18 - Topic - Breaking the Rules

[Designer Dale]

Hi, all. Time for a new Challenge. The topic will be Breaking the Rules. This is open to your interpretation of the phrase.

The challenge will run from right now until : 11:59PM September 18.

Be sure to visit and post your images in our Flickr group.

Rules:
1. Photos should be your own work.
2. Produced within the challenge period if possible.
3. All positive feedback and criticism is encouraged and welcome if you posted or not.
4. There is no real limit to the number of photos you may enter.

Challenge topics:
1. Suggestions for the bi-weekly's challenge are made in a single thread which will be set up during the week prior to the new challenge.

Lets have fun!!!

Designer Dale (Dale) for JohnMc (John)

 

[NeverhadaPC]

First Jump

Near Marquette in Upper Peninsula, Michigan. Any CnC appreciated.



I was debating on whether the photos should display an act of "breaking the rules" or be a product of breaking photography rules. I settled with the former and the rule broken is:

Don't jump off the 15' cliffs --- the water is a bit shallow with rocks 8-10 feet below surface

 

[gnd]

The title of this Fortnight Challenge being "Breaking the Rules" I don't see which rules this photo is breaking. The horizon is at a third, the subject is at a third, you even managed to connect the top third to the bottom two thirds with your subject ... Seems to me it's pretty much "by the book"

 

[CK Williams]

The "rule" might be "no jumping off the rock"

 

[freigeist]

• don't make against-the-light shots when not in a controlled environment
• carefully focus your target and compose the scene

I broke at least these two rules...and I'm glad I did this

 

[deep diver]

The "rule" might be "no jumping off the rock"

[*]don't make against-the-light shots when not in a controlled environment
[*]carefully focus your target and compose the scene

I broke at least these two rules...and I'm glad I did this

Perhaps all posts should include an explanation of the rule breaking.

 

[Designer Dale]

The "rule" might be "no jumping off the rock"

Yes, it could. Or maybe "That belly flop will sting, young lady". I left "Rules" undefined to open up the topic to a wider interpretation of the meaning. That usually means more photos. Adding the rule might add to the understanding, or it might unintentionally drive the direction of the thread.

I love my job...

Dale

• don't make against-the-light shots when not in a controlled environment
• carefully focus your target and compose the scene

I broke at least these two rules...and I'm glad I did this

Add Rule of Thirds and keeping the subject in the frame. The latter is a design rule I learned in college. If part of the subject is near the edge, push it off or give it more breathing room. Make it look intentional rather than accidental.

Your shot has a lot of movement and spontaneity to it.

 

[NeverhadaPC]

I updated my First Jump photo... I am new at photography so almost all my photos are focused on "following the book"

Here is one that breaks some photography rules:


1) Long-exposure without a tripod!
2) Exposure bias not properly used -- everything is dark

and another:


1) Subject cut in half
2) Lacking focus on snow-flakes and bird-legs

and a final one:


1) Shooting into bright sunny background
2) No tripod leads to lack of TACK-sharp focus

 

[JDDavis]

• don't make against-the-light shots when not in a controlled environment
• carefully focus your target and compose the scene

I broke at least these two rules...and I'm glad I did this

I agree that this works. It's hard to not get sucked in to the giant bright spot in the center. But I think one of the main things that makes it work is the left birds gaze back at the camera. If one of the birds had been covering the brightest portion of the sky it would be even better. Still, I think it's a ver interesting shot.

 

[JDDavis]

Okay, so no rule of thirds here and you really shouldn't center your subject unless it works with the symmetry of the picture (supposedly). I think this one still works for me because the rope acts as a leading line and the column above continues on with that line.

 

[JDDavis]

I updated my First Jump photo... I am new at photography so almost all my photos are focused on "following the book"

Here is one that breaks some photography rules:


1) Long-exposure without a tripod!
2) Exposure bias not properly used -- everything is dark

and another:


1) Subject cut in half
2) Lacking focus on snow-flakes and bird-legs

and a final one:


1) Shooting into bright sunny background
2) No tripod leads to lack of TACK-sharp focus

The one that still works for sure is the middle one. There is kind of a story there with only half the bird leaving in a hurry. I like it for what it is. The other two though broke some rules as you state but I don't think they really work. Not much going on in the first one to hold interest and the last one would actually work well with the white background but the flower has got to be in focus for it to look nice.

 

[Designer Dale]

Centered (more that "they" like). Blown out sky fixed in post. The main rule broken here is not getting it right in the viewfinder to start with. I like the color and texture of the plant.


EXIF Summary: 1/200s f/4.5 ISO100 Tamron 28-75 2.8@75mm

Dale

 

[deep diver]

Perfectly symmetrical. They say that is a rule breaker, but I don't know.

 

[Designer Dale]

On the symmetry track.



Dale

 

[deep diver]

The front part of this is a little over exposed and the center part is a little under exposed. This is a hallway in the chapel of a local cemetery. I wanted to convey/emphasize the feeling of transitioning.

 

[mpr131]

Rebels

 

[JDDavis]

More not obeying signs...

 

[mtnbikemama]

Along the same lines at the photos above. I didn't see the sign saying No Climbing until after I snapped this shot!

 

[mtbdudex]

Somewhere I read the rule of 1/3's for National monuments you do want to break them, correct?
Therefore, these are actually following the rule by breaking the rule
From our June-2010 NYC vacation:

Same shot, just vertical crop

And for a rules of 1/3 shot, the "going to Staten" ferry was going by us (were were on the return Staten ferry) and I took this on purpose, following the rule of 1/3 (trying to).
This shot does not work as much as centering like above I feel, still sharing to show it and why the "center the monument" rule works.

 

[Designer Dale]

Somewhere I read the rule of 1/3's for National monuments you do want to break them, correct?
Therefore, these are actually following the rule by breaking the rule
From our June-2010 NYC vacation:

Same shot, just vertical crop

And for a rules of 1/3 shot, the "going to Staten" ferry was going by us (were were on the return Staten ferry) and I took this on purpose, following the rule of 1/3 (trying to).
This shot does not work as much as centering like above I feel, still sharing to show it and why the "center the monument" rule works.

The vertical crop of the Statue of Liberty (SOL ?? ) works best as a recording of the statue, but the last one works best as a photograph. It's not as much as following the rule of 1/3s as having a gestalt going on in there. More life.

Dale