Lost in Translation
Looking for meanings in words, images and sounds
Thursday’s Special: Breaking the Rules
When I came up with the theme for today’s challenge I was thinking about breaking photographic rules like the rule of thirds, taking unfocused photos, holding camera on an angle, experimenting with framing, or the rule that I most definitely broke – the rule of creating active space for moving subject to move into.
If you are photographing a subject that is moving you should place more empty space in front of it than behind it. This gives the viewer of the image a sense of where the subject is moving and creates a sense of anticipation.
While following this rule can produce some excellent results, breaking it can add a little tension and intrigue to your images. It can also convey a sense of speed and/or give the viewer a sense of where the subject has been rather than where they are headed.
If you are not a photographic rule breaker, feel free to post your different take on the theme. I look forward to seeing your results. Happy Thursday!
Click on the links bellow to check out the entries:
Lost in Translation 
Great challenge Paula! I’m all for breaking the rules. I’m at work, so I’ll see if I have any drafts that can fit.
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And breaking the rule of work discipline too 😉 Great to hear from you so early CG.
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It’s been a hectic day at work so far, but I managed to write a post (most of it is copy/paste).
https://cardinalguzman.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/the-stave-church-folkemuseet/
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I like it, Max 🙂 I did not know the meaning of “stave” before. It is very informative, and interesting and the photos are lovely, especially the one I am displaying 🙂
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I’m singing along! 🙂 Just relieved to hear from you, though I know you’re not well. Magical shot, as ever, Paula. Doubt I’ll take part this week. I don’t know the rules well enough to break them. Sending yo smiles 🙂 🙂 I can’t do much else.
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Your rules comment made me laugh :D. Bless your socks (is that what you always say?) 😀
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I do 🙂 🙂 Hugs!
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In this case breaking the rule, seems to give the benefits expected from following the rule. Having part of the wings outside the frame further enhances the feeling of urgency and subject leaving the scene.
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Thanks a lot Jussi. I felt the drama in this frame as we don’t know if he is going to hug or eat somebody 😉
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This is all new ground to me – but very fascinating, Paula. I’m like Jo, I don’t know the rules very well to begin with. But your photo is so dramatic, and you’ve explained it all so well, you have definitely given me food for thought if not for a post. A big hug.
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Hi Paula. That’s a great example of breaking the rules to good effect. My post will appear shortly, but it’s a more literal interpretation of rule breaking, as I was feeling lazy!
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I like when you are lazy Debbie cause your entries are always a treat 😀
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Hmmm it seems then like the photographic rules are like the Pirate’s Code, more suggestion than law.
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I think that too 🙂 Thank you, Joseph 🙂
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Breaking the rules is something we need to do at some stage. All part of the photographic journey.
I like your shot. It looks like it’s running away from the water. 🙂
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🙂 I am glad to see you like it, Draco.
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Love this old song. What an intriguing image, Paula! Hugs to you. xx 🙂
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Thank you, precious. Hugs back.
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Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Breaking the Rules | Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)
LOVE it! And the song. Your wouldn’t want to see the results of my broken rules Paula 😀
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I most certainly WOULD 🙂
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Pingback: The Stave Church @ Folkemuseet | Cardinal Guzman
This is going to be a fun Thursday looking for rule breakers, Paula. :). Great shot today.
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😀 Do you have a rule breaker among your terrific shots Lisa? I would so much like you to participate 🙂
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I’ll take a look, Paula. 🙂 If I find one I couldn’t post it for a few days if that would still work with your theme…
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It will. Are you going somewhere Lisa?
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I’ll be out of town visiting family over the weekend, Paula. A fun time for sure but not a lot of time for blogging. 🙂
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Have a safe trip and loads of fun, Lisa. If you have time later on, I will be happy to have your entry 🙂
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Even breaking the rules, the photo captures my attention, for sure. The colours, movement&almost like standing still at the same moment… And how could I not mention grace?! A lovely result after breaking the rules, Paula! I hope your week has been nice, and you can almost feel the weekend at the door. Hugs!
Here’ s the path I decided to take this time: https://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/thursdays-special-breaking-the-rules/
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Yours is the one that made me smile most 🙂 🙂 🙂 How can I thank you dear Ese!
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What a lovely shot, Paula. I can feel his urgency to move! Don’t know if I’ll have time to enter but love the challenge! Some rules are made to be broken! 😉
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Thank you very much, Linda. How are you?
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I’m doing okay, Paula. Thanks for asking. We’ve still got a couple of months to go with hubby before we’ll really know anything for sure. But he’s doing okay. Hugs!
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That’s good to hear Linda. I am glad you are all thinking positive thoughts. Thank you for letting me know. Hugs.
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Good and creative ideas!
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Thank you, Phil 🙂
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I love the idea of breaking the rules, Paula. I remember making some photos with movements, whilst following Photo 101 last year, that were not delivering what was asked. I’ll take a look at them and see if it is worth posting it.
Love the music and your photo.
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Thank you, Lucile. I would love to see them 🙂
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You’re welcome, Paula. I will post something. Hope you won’t be disappointed.
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I’ve seen your work Lucile. No way you could disappoint me 🙂
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You’re very kind.
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Your collection has put a few smiles on my face: the kids (a very successful shot), the swan (fantastic), the feet (the most fun), and the birds – brilliant. Thank you, thank you.
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I’m so happy you liked it. It took me a while to go through my not yet officially rejected but ignored photos and find these ones I had forgotten.
Your prompt was brilliant and served me to learn another lesson about photography. I don’t really know many rules as an amateur, and that photo 101 course was no course, so I just reminded myself after choosing these that creativity has no rules.
And I don’t like rules anyways.
Thank you, for organizing clever and fun challenges.
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I am no photographer either, I am what you would call enthusiastic amateur with the ambition of getting better and better not to please others or to act by the rules but to please myself – I am not easily pleased. Obrigada Lucile 🙂
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I could grasp that because what you do is of high quality and you have a sensitive and trained eye. But… Being professional doesn’t mean being perfect and perfection is not synonym for beauty isn’t it?
Knowing that you’re not easily pleased makes your compliments exponentially more valuable! Thanks.
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😀
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Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Breaking the Rules | Middleton Road
It’s amazing how creative one can get with composition. This one is as unconventional as it gets and the result is excellent! Great job Paula.
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🙂 🙂 thanks a lot, buddy 🙂
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I peaked yesterday at today’s topic (nista-nas-ne-smije-iznenaditi :-)) and picked a photo. Of someone breaking a rule. But, as it was in a way repetition of something I already posted, after reading your post today and your suggestion/interpretation of the topic, I decided to change. And here is what I came up with:
http://lessywannagohome.blogspot.be/2015/03/thursdays-special-breaking-rules.html
was your photo accidentally taken that way? ( the swan too fast maybe). I like it this way. very harmonious photo – even color coordinated.
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Thank you, Klara. I have quite a few photos of the same swan. This capture was intentional 😀 Good for you for noticing the harmony in colour 🙂
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I don’t know enough about photography to know the rules. It’s a safe bet to say I break them all the time. So, my photo subject broke the rules but I don’t know if the photo did.
http://patriciasplace.me/2015/03/19/breaking-rules/
If your photo broke rules it was worth it. It’s wonderful.
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Thank you, dear. You are very kind. What would I do for a green thumb like yours! Lovely entry, Patricia!
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My thumb is only green when the plant is easy to grow, very hardy, and doesn’t mind being neglected sometimes.
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I kill all of mine with tough love
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🙂
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Pingback: Out in the Midday Sun: Running Ostrich and Ngong Hills | Tish Farrell
http://wp.me/pKVAM-1eD A rather daft offering, Paula, involving an ostrich 🙂
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and not only that but Ngong Hills too. I love the colour schemes and composition in your photos Tish, and I am very glad you broke the rules of shooting in Africa 😀
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Glad it please you too, Paula.
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Such a nice job on the photo challenge, I really enjoyed the whole series.
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Pingback: Breaking the Rules | lucile de godoy
Voglio mandarti anch’o una foto , ma ho fatto tre tentativi e il mio tablet non funziona……
Intanto , complimenti per il post!
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Poverina :(. Maybe you can try later?
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I could publish my photo on my blogs, at last , but I wonder if it got to your site…..
Big hugs
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Lovely picture…
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I never knew the rules. What I like about this is the ripples in the water echoing the wing-lines and the shading of the feathers.
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🙂 thank you, Hilary for being observant.
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Go for it! Defy all of those so called rules! Robert Bateman has done it often with his paintings to remarkable success. Many time he has positioned birds and other animals near the edges of his pieces, and facing away from the viewer.
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😆 thank you, Allan 🙂
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