Lovely soft light, the rule of thirds, nice, even exposures… These are all the fundamental skills we are taught when we first take the plunge into manual mode and begin learning photography. And there’s a reason for this – a thorough understanding of these technical elements helps us build a strong foundation for our photography, which is exactly what we teach in our Enthusiast Course.

But rules are made to be broken! And as Picasso so succinctly said – we learn the rules like pros, so we can then break them like artists! The key is knowing WHICH rules to break, and WHEN and HOW to break them. And that’s where the Advanced Course comes in…

So what do we mean when we talk about breaking the rules in photography? It’s about learning how to use our technical skills to execute a creative idea or vision that tells the story of who we are as artists…

Playing With Light

When we’re first learning photography, we’re encouraged to look for soft light in which to shoot. It’s flattering, it’s predictable, and it’s easy to work with. But as we become more comfortable with our cameras and more confident in manual mode, we start to look outside the confines of open shade and soft window light, and a whole new world opens up!

Think moody, directional light, full sun, dramatic shadows, beautiful backlight, stunning silhouettes, lens flares and haze… As your ability to read light develops, so too does your ability to create stunning images at any time of day, in any situation, indoors or outdoors…

Related: How to use natural light for dark and moody portraits, Dramatic portraits with natural light

Clever Compositions

When you think about composition, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? It’s the rule of thirds, right?! There’s no doubt that the rule of thirds is a powerful compositional tool, but it’s definitely not the be-all and end-all! In fact, when we consider other elements of composition such as framing, layering and leading lines, sometimes breaking the rule of thirds is the way forward!

Related: How to use leading lines for great photos,  Breaking the rule of thirds, Using negative space for spectacular photos

Storytelling

What’s the difference between a snapshot and a powerful, timeless image? Well, composition is important, of course, as is exposure. But when we go beyond what an image looks like and start to think about how an image makes us feel, well, then we’ve mastered the art of storytelling!

When using an image to tell a story, we take into account every single element included in the frame. From the way our subjects are dressed, to the way they’re positioned, to the way they are connecting with each other and with the camera. And by including these elements in our frame with purpose, we can create images that draw the viewer into the story…

Related: 32 Contemporary Portrait Ideas

 

Ready For the Next Steps in Your Photography?

If you’re shooting in manual mode, our Advanced Photography Course is the next step. You will learn to shoot with confidence in any scenario, and push yourself creatively to develop your style through intensive 1:1 critique on your work.

Click HERE to find out more and join the waitlist for our next round coming soon!