As Ansel Adams once said, “There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs”. That hasn’t stopped the world of photography developing its own rules for successful photos over the years.
The rule of thirds. The rule of using active space for action photos. The rule of keeping backgrounds free of distractions, or keeping horizons straight or using a shutter speed that matches the focal length of the lens in order to take sharp handheld photos…
There are so many photographic rules or guidelines that it’s enough to put newcomers off! Well, here are 9 rules that we think are probably of more practical use for beginners, but which don’t get said often enough, if at all…
SEE MORE: 10 rules of photo composition (and why they work)
1 The not-the-rule-of-thirds rule
Don’t get us wrong; the rule of thirds is a useful photography technique for quick-fire composition, and a great way for beginner photographers to get a feel for how to create balanced photos.
But it’s easy to get caught up in always trying to place the main subject according to the rule of thirds. And this can lead to photo portfolios where all the images share similar weight and balance.
We say, mix it up a bit. Put the subject in the centre of the frame if that’s going to create the strongest image. Or embrace negative space and put the subject at the edge of the frame.
Once you’ve got that rule of thirds shot in the bag, bracket your compositions as you would bracket an exposure.
SEE MORE: 6 composition techniques that will improve your photography
2 The rule of only buying the camera equipment you really need
Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) drains time, emotion and cold, hard cash. But it’s easy to fall into the trap of loading up on camera gear you think you’ll come in handy rather than the kit you’ll really get your money’s worth from.
It’s a particular issue with camera lenses, and few things are as frustrating as lens buyer’s remorse: buying a lens, only to realise later that you’ve splashed out unnecessarily because the only thing it adds to your kit is weight…
SEE MORE: DSLR Lenses: 7 questions photographers must ask about their next piece of glass
3 The rule of never putting your camera away until on the way home
As famous Nikon photographer Joe McNally once said, “Don’t pack up your camera until you’ve left the location”.
It only takes a second for the light to change or a person or animal to do something unexpected, and if your camera’s switch off and safely cocooned in its bag, then you’ll miss the moment.
In a similar vein, don’t leave a location until you’re sure you’ve exhausted the light and opportunities. When everyone else is heading home for dinner, that’s the time you’re likely to capture those unique moments…
SEE MORE: 10 landscape photography mistakes every photographer makes
4 The rule of not packing more camera gear than you need
Hands up who’s been guilty of packing every piece of photographic equipment into a backpack before heading into the great outdoors – and then only sticking with a single lens and camera for the majority of pictures?
Being prepared for any photographic opportunity is one thing, but being able to react quickly and spend the day without your back aching more than makes up for that.
SEE MORE: 7 ways that photographers keep letting themselves down
5 The rule of developing a default camera setup
Always remember to check and reset your camera as you move between different shooting opportunities. If you don’t then unexpected results can occur – or you may miss the moment altogether.
Forgetting to reset exposure compensation and then applying more exposure adjustments on top, only to end up with a grossly overexposed or underexposed photo? We’ve all been there.
It’s a good idea to develop a default camera setup, one that enables you to put the camera to your eye, react quickly and make adjustments from a known setting.
For example, some photographers swear by a camera that’s set to Aperture Priority, with a fairly large aperture dialled in, along with pattern metering mode, one-shot autofocus and Auto ISO and Auto White Balance by default.
SEE MORE: 49 awesome photography tips and time savers
6 The rule of standing in the right place
This is what really matters in photography. You can be in a dream location in the sort of light that sets your photographic pulse racing, but if you’re not standing in the right place then none of will make any difference.
SEE MORE: Photo composition tips: how to search out new views of familiar scenes
7 The rule of two legs before three
Camera tripods are top of the essential list of camera accessories. Not only can they help you achieve sharper images and offer more flexibility when it comes to choosing exposure settings, they slow you down and make you consider framing and composition with more care.
The trouble is that they can tie you to the spot.
While there might be an obvious place to plonk your tripod, particularly when it comes to shooting an iconic landscape, take some time to make sure you really have found the right camera position. Would shooting from a lower or higher angle work better? Fire off a few test shots with a handheld camera to make sure.
SEE MORE: 8 tripod mistakes every photographer makes (and how to get it right)
8 The rule of reformatting
It might sound common sense, but it’s easy to overlook, particularly if you’re not shooting regularly.
Get into the habit of downloading your pictures and reformatting memory cards as soon as you return from a shoot. Having to scroll through images on the back of a camera and delete individual shots to free up precious space is no fun.
SEE MORE: Photoshop for beginners: master your photo editing workflow in 24 hours
9 The 3-2-1 back-up rule for photographers
OK, so this rule already exists in the computing world. But how many photographers are aware of it, let alone follow it? It’s the most important digital photography rule there is.
The 3-2-1 rule is a simple one:
3: make three copies of your digital photo collection (one primary collection and two backups)
2: keep two copies on different formats (one on a hard drive, one online or on optical media)
1: store one of the copies offsite
If you don’t follow this rule, you’re running the risk of losing your photo collection and having to start all over again…
READ MORE
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