Photography is full of rules regarding every aspect, including composition, lighting, editing, and more. And while those rules can be tremendously useful, adhering to them strictly is likely to handcuff your creativity and limit your growth as a photographer. This interesting video essay discusses the ideas of learning the rules, following them, and then breaking them.
Coming to you from Craig Roberts with e6 Vlogs, this great video essay talks about learning and breaking the rules. There is certainly a place for rules, particularly when you are new to photography. Many rules are there not because they are some arbitrary declaration by some invisible authority on photography, but rather because they are the codification of certain trends or styles that appeared over and over. This means they can be an important learning tool when you are growing as a photographer, as they help you follow in the footsteps of previously successful photographers. On the other hand, they can eventually limit you. Because they are often created as a result of common practices, if you never move away from them, you might never discover your own unique voice. I generally find it better to think of rules as starting points. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Roberts.