“Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools.”
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Stuart Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL
He's the numpty who flew into Heathrow, announced on radio he was approaching and landed without following air traffic instructions or entering the stack and waiting for his slot. People who break rules like that are fools.
When was this? As I have never heard of this incident.
After the war. I don't know when exactly when but I was told by an RAF Captain/Navigator friend of mine who said he became a royal PITA after the war and they eventually took his flying license away from him. He thought he could do anything he wanted because he was Bader.
This is what what happens when you build someone up as a war hero for propaganda and publicity purposes.
Are you sure this is correct? Or just what your friend said?
I've always liked this one.
“Now to consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk. Such rules and laws are deduced from the accomplished fact; they are the products of reflection.” – Edward Weston
And then............
“When subject matter is forced to fit into preconceived patterns, there can be no freshness of vision. Following rules of composition can only lead to a tedious repetition of pictorial cliches.” – Edward Weston
+1"Crap of Thirds". I like that, and it's exactly true. I can usually tell a Crap of Thirds photo because the composition is often awkward and imbalanced. The correct rule of composition is "Make it look good." A lot of that is a balance issue that can't be stated in words and refuses to follow rules, but is felt. If you were happier when you were going by feel, you were probably doing it right, and you should go back.
When I taught photography, years ago, I used to tell people that they grew up fed on good composition, in ads, on TV, in movies, and that when shooting a picture they should move the framing around until it looked like something they might see in a good publication. Unfortunately that idea doesn't work as well as it used to, but moving the framing until something clicks is still a good idea. You might start looking at pictures in terms of trying to find the balance that's there, and feel whether it's good or bad.
"Crap of Thirds". I like that, and it's exactly true. I can usually tell a Crap of Thirds photo because the composition is often awkward and imbalanced. The correct rule of composition is "Make it look good." A lot of that is a balance issue that can't be stated in words and refuses to follow rules, but is felt. If you were happier when you were going by feel, you were probably doing it right, and you should go back.
When I taught photography, years ago, I used to tell people that they grew up fed on good composition, in ads, on TV, in movies, and that when shooting a picture they should move the framing around until it looked like something they might see in a good publication. Unfortunately that idea doesn't work as well as it used to, but moving the framing until something clicks is still a good idea. You might start looking at pictures in terms of trying to find the balance that's there, and feel whether it's good or bad.
why isn't there a camera which uses the golden rectangle ratio (1 : 1.618) as it film format?
I wouldn't call it crap of thirds, as for some it is a good guide, which for some, it is all it is meant to be.
http://www.soulcatcherstudio.com/exhibitions/trees/hcb.html
I do find it useful to take off my glasses so everything is just a blur.
I also find it useful to go out and find one thing and then try and take as many pictures of that one thing that I can think of, working from different heights and angles.
But in reality, don't get too concerned over it. The rules are guidelines and it is nice to have these in the back of your mind when you are working. Sometimes it is like riding a bike. In the beginning everything is at the front of your mind and you wobble and fall easily. But after awhile it all becomes more automatic and things become more natural. Then one day as you are riding, or taking photographs, you look back and wonder what the hullabaloo was all about.
why isn't there a camera which uses the golden rectangle ratio (1 : 1.618) as it film format?
why isn't there a camera which uses the golden rectangle ratio (1 : 1.618) as it film format?
We have to take your word for this stuff. We don't know if you pictures were actually better before you became analytical or not. But composition is important. But when we are learning it's often better to learn it from the prints we make. Take the picture of the scene the way you feel it. Then analyze the print for how you could have done better. Get a critique from someone whose work you respect.
Because composition should not be much of a thought out process after a while it should be automatic. You should instinctively set your camera up that way.
Another idea is to shoot one shot of the scene from a wider angle. And print both that and your other print. Then when looking at the prints see if you got the best composition.
That's my advice. Shoot from instinct, they analyze the print. And adjust your thinking from there.
In sports you practice, and practice, but in a game you just play. In practice you analyze, but when you play, you shut off your mind.
I've always liked this one.
“Now to consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk. Such rules and laws are deduced from the accomplished fact; they are the products of reflection.” – Edward Weston
And then............
“When subject matter is forced to fit into preconceived patterns, there can be no freshness of vision. Following rules of composition can only lead to a tedious repetition of pictorial cliches.” – Edward Weston
I´d like to say my opinion. I agree completely with the idea that compositin should not be overthought. I approach this in a way that works for me and it´s very simple, and that is I look at the viewfinder to see what is going to be on film. I press the shutter only when I like what I see. This can sound stupid, it does even for me, but I don´t really think much about the elements of the image, I try to observe and then I somehow know when I am seeing a pleasing (for me) composition. My photographs have improved since I started and I think this has happened not necessarily because I think more and more about the elements of the image, but because I am a better observer and I realize it becomes always more and more refined what I find pleasing. Maybe this is not the most rational way to deal with the graphical aspects of photography, but on the other hand my main concern is not to be able to produce estetically perfect images, rather images I myself like to look at.
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