“The so–called ‘rules’ of photographic composition are, in my opinion, invalid, irrelevant and immaterial—nothing but obscurations between the spirit and the revelation of the world of nature and of man…It is affirmed here that there are no rules of composition in photography; there are only good photographs!” Ansel Adams

As photographers we learn many rules, ranging from the technical aspects of exposure and focusing to the rules of composition that will make the aesthetically pleasing in some fashion.

We often hear the judge cite these rules in their critique of a photograph during competitions. They may say that the eye is too centered, the subject should be entering the frame more, the horizon is too much in the middle, and so on. Yet, we then often see where photos that don’t adhere to standard rules are awarded over those that do.
There’s no doubt that there is something else about these winning photos that make them more compelling and justify their selection.

It can be argued that learning the standard rules is important when we are first starting out as part of the photography learning curve. However, as our skills progress both with our camera and with the processing software, we can also learn to be more creative. This often requires breaking the rules. As photographer and philosopher Guy Tal said, “Following rules restricts artists to preconceived templates, having the effect of limiting novelty and promoting conformity: the opposite of creativity.”

On social media, in photography workshops, or our club programs, we often come across an image that draws us in, that causes us to pause and look more closely—and it’s not that we notice how well it conforms to the “rules,” about how the eye is placed in the perfect intersection of the rule of thirds grid, or how there is breathing room on the sides. It is more likely the way the image was processed, how the tones have been accentuated and the lighting makes the subject stand out and leads our eye through the picture. We may even want to emulate or at least learn more about the technique that created these images. Many of the professional photographers that display these images teach their philosophy, photographic approach, and processing techniques through downloadable classes or tutorials. Some that I’m familiar with, including Blake Rudis, Joel Grimes, and Alex Noriega, teach beyond the basics of photography and treat photography as art. They strive to produce captivating images that draw the viewer to what they want them to see, not just what the camera captured.

A benefit of this club is that we have many talented photographers at all levels that can also teach this to us. By sharing their images in Competitions, Members Galleries, and Portfolio Projects, giving Education & Training sessions, Forums, and Mentoring, they demonstrate not only the rules but how we can go beyond these to process our images more artistically to better engage the viewer.

In our photographic journey of learning, exposure to the work of others sparks our creativity and teaches us more about how we can take compelling images that express our own artistic style.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”― Pablo Picasso

Art Rose President 2026–2027