Today, Susan and I spent the evening talking with a passionate young lady who is getting into photography. She shared what her mentor has been telling her and listened to what we had to say. Much of it was contradicting. Her mentor has been telling her to under expose by a stop. Both Susan and I said to expose for the highlights, lean right. She apologetically explained that her camera is a crop sensor and that her mentor has told her she needs to get a full frame sensor. I told her I shoot micro 4/3. It went on and on. Contradicting thoughts, opinions and ideas filled the conversation. I explained the “rules.” Susan explained “intuitive” shooting.
I imagine that this young lady is now thoroughly confused. Everyone is sending her in different directions.
Confusion is not necessarily a bad thing. If we truly know the answers, there may be no confusion but also there is no curiosity. It is from curiosity that passion and learning come.
If anyone was incorrect, it was I. Yes there are “rules.” However, they limit us as much as they inform us. So the only true rule is that physics of light and energy have an impact on exposure. That increasing the shutter speed (all other factors remaining constant) reduces the amount of light in an exposure, for example. These things inform our process but they do not dictate.
All other rules are but suggestions, patterns that have held true in many, perhaps most, cases in the past. In most cases, one probably should place the subject in the approximate area of the intersection of the thirds. But maybe not. In most cases it is best to have the eyes of the subject looking toward the viewer, except when it’s not. You get my drift.
I feel it is good to get to know the “rules.” One can choose how or when to use them. To have the past experience of those who came before help guide us in where we go. It is my hope that this will allow me to build on what they have done and to, perhaps, in some small way create something new and (dare I say it) better.
It is equally important to not become trapped by the “rules” (something I often do). If one becomes rigidly attached to following the rules, the images produced will be but copies of those that have come before. They will not express the soul of the subject nor of the photographer. This results in a less interesting image for the viewer, and their soul will not be moved.
Isn’t that what we are all trying to do? To see the soul in our subject and communicate with it. To then share that spark with our viewer that they may experience a little piece of how we were moved, that they may connect with our soul.
It is only when one remains open and participative that this interaction can occur. It is only when one has listened to others and then stepped off that they may be truely expressive.
So, listen to what I say and watch what I do. Read books. Watch videos and YouTubes. Take classes. Absorb all the contradictions and from the chaos of all the ideas taking flight, choose the flight that is your own. (And know that I will be watching and learning from you.)
Happy Shooting.