We work so hard to learn the photography rules , at least I do but now it is time to BREAK them!! The problem is just that in order to break a rule, you must know that there is a rule in the first place!
Photography is as much about emotion and instinct to me as it is about technical skill. In those moments when we abandon the constraints of traditional guidelines, we open ourselves up to unexpected and beautiful outcomes in my case many times by mistake. The light might be harsh, and the shadows may seem unflattering, but that can lead to a unique perspective. The carefree spirit of snapping images without overthinking allows for spontaneity to shine through, infusing each shot with authenticity.
So dear challenger, you have two choices. First you can go and look for a rules to consciously break. This could be something like disregarding symmetry or capturing an image at an unusual angle that defies convention. Rather than shooting from eye-level, explore unique angles, such as low or upside down. OR you can just go and shoot without paying too much attention to the rules that we often keep in the back of our minds, allowing pure creativity to guide you. This absence of self-imposed restrictions might lead to surprising results that speak more to your personal vision than any shot meticulously planned around compositional rules.
Unlike conventional photography – which focuses on capturing crisp and detailed images – impressionist photography challenges us to see the world through a different lens, one that is less concerned with sharpness and more with the emotional and visual impact. Impressionist photos aren’t just about what is directly in front of the camera, but about the story you choose to tell through colors, shapes, and even blur.
I love capturing impressionistic shots, you to paint with your camera – so you can create the kind of artwork that resonates deep down. I encourage you to embrace movement, play with focus, and celebrate abstraction.
Here are few suggestions: Hold Your Camera on an Angle, Break the Rule of Thirds, Ignore the ‘Active Space’ Rule for Moving Subjects, Experiment with Different Framings in Portraits, Taking Unfocused Photos, Use a High ISO to Create Grainy Shots, Move Your Camera to Create Motion Blur
OR, if you’re feeling particularly inspired, you can take a photo of a rule breaker!
As a summary, I have to say I really struggled with doing this post – I found out that I am a stickler for rules. Looking for shots that I had not thought about before, especially focusing on the different learned rules, was quite challenging and required me to think outside of my usual patterns. I noticed that I consistently keep in mind the rule of thirds, straight horizon lines, and various composition rules that are ingrained in my approach to photography, and these guidelines are often very hard to ignore or set aside. Despite my efforts to break free from these confines, I felt a strong urge to adhere to these established principles each time I raised my camera. I hope you can provide me with great examples of images to be inspired by that have not been so heavily influenced by the traditional rules, allowing me to embrace a more creative and unconventional perspective in my work.
Last week we enjoyed the creative and cinematic photos with Sofia’s challenge. So let’s keep up the same level of creativity this week. Next week, it’s Egídio’s turn to host on Saturday, May 10th—hope you can join us then! Until then, keep smiling. You never know, it might just make someone’s day a little brighter!
If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 
Well, this IS a challenge. And a thought-provoking one. The truble is, we (OK I) so often junk the photos that break too many rules, so I’ll have to see if I can have a disobedient week!
This is a tough one. Composition techniques are ingrained in me after all this time.
You’ve given us the direction and examples…let’s see where it takes us.
I love that you’re giving us all the inspiration and space to be creative outside rules that might be constricting us. Your photos are fantastic, your photographic eye is so unique.
Here is mine:
Great challenge! I love rule breaking photos! Here is my entry
That’s a tough one, Ritva 🙂. I looked through cursorily at the almost 8000 pictures on my phone and couldn’t figure out which ones could qualify as a rule breaker and which ones as just bad shots 😂. Let’s see if I can get some new ones with rule breaking in mind.
Oh and of course, your shots are lovely as always 🙂.
☺
Well, first of all, I love your photos! And for me, I am not patient enough to learn all the rules, so right now in my life I am just enjoying taking photos and enjoying the moments. I decided if I like the photo, that’s all that really matters for what I do now. However, in the future I’d like to take the time to learn more!
Thanks Lisa, I think you have some rules in your mind that you don’t knowledge using. I found I did
You are probably correct!! 😊
You’ve created a difficult challenge. I’m echoing PR’s comment and will look for photos of mine might break the rules and which ones deserve to be “recycled.” >grin<
John, we need to be challenged at times, eh?
Indeed! I’m working hard on it and it will be ready on Thursday, as usual!
The duck in motion is beautifully intriguing. The image of the blurred child with sea shells in focus invites a story. Thank you for this challenge and permission to be oppositional defiant…:)
Thanks and you are welcome 😂
A great idea for this weeks challenge Ritva. I like your examples 🙂
Thanks Steve
What a challenge Ritva! Like you, I didn’t know there were rules to break. I’ll have to take a deep dive into the archives for this one. I did love all your rule breaking images. They may have broken rules, but came out looking tremendous.
This is a great challenge and wonderful images Ritva! I’ll have to do a deep dive into my archives to find some rule breaking images,
Thanks Anne, It is a challenge , even for me.
Wow, two comments from me. I didn’t think the first one would publish since WP had me sign in again. But, this challenge was worth two comments!
😀
Thanks for this challenge, Ritva. It really is a challenge to search for photos breaking the rules because I don’t really think of that when taking the shot. Gotta search for one now
Thanks Teresa, no mostly the rules are there even if we don’t think about them, at least that is what I found out myself
RULES?! Oh My Goodness, I didn’t know there were RULES!!! 😱😱😱 I could be in serious trouble here. Great post however. Yet another erudite, scholarly presentation by the knowledgeable LA hosts of late, as was Sofia last week.
Mine: https://fairplay740.wordpress.com/2025/05/03/lens-artists-challenge-347-break-the-rules/
John, that is such a lovely comment, so I will just say I appreciate you for saying so
Love your examples, but methinks this challenge is really hard. I might have to spend some time looking at the archives this morning. I did that yesterday and didn’t get anything done on my to-do list. 😀
Vicki, even if I came up with this challenge I found it hard. I didn’t think how much I always consider the unwritten rules
I get what you mean rules or guides, I always think of guides. Interesting challenge Ritva and think you have shown some great examples.
Thank you Leanne, it was rather hard for me in the end.
I like the duck in motion, great!
Thank you
Loved this opportunity to share photos I never would have, if not for this challenge!
Loved this challenge, Ritva. And all your examples. And the chance to air some of my ‘odd’ photo results:
https://tishfarrell.com/2025/05/04/breaking-the-rules-more-by-accident-than-on-purpose/
Thank you Tish, glad you liked them
That’s such a real take, RS. The pull between rules and instinct shows up in every frame. Some of the best shots really do come from just letting go and seeing what happens.
Philo
Thanks Philo, so well said, it is a balance between rules and instinct
Welcome, RS.
Indeed a balance!
my contribution
https://philosophyvia.photos/2025/05/04/lens-artists-challenge-347-break-the-rules/
SO fun!!! Love the sense of movement, the child and shadow, and the blurred baby in the background with the object of interest in the foreground – very fun.
Thank you Katharine, I am to hear you enjoyed my attempt to break the rules.
Oh…this will be a tough one, Ritva! I never really think, just do. And rules are at the back of my head. It will be interesting to see just How difficult it will be to break free. Lots of good examples from you – I will try later in the week.
AC, I m with you, I took this on and found it hard to do myself. And, you will no doubt very well
Ritva, this will be a difficult challenge for me but you have given us some great examples. I love the framed view of the coastal rock.
Great challenge, Ritva! Thanks. I loved your images, especially the red cabin (my fave), the duck, and the misty landscape.
Ritva, I love your challenge because it will be very challenging for me to come up with decent examples. These are great examples you provided.
This is a fun challenge theme with lots of pathways to take – so thanks for that – and I will work on my post later. In the meantime, I liked your images and my absolute fav was the candid shot of lady with baggy pants taking photo of acyive child, with shadow, on that cool angle and the shirtless an behind them with a bag – and the bungalow in back.
Great examples of a hard challenge for me! I’m working on breaking those rules for this week!
So finally, my post is here:
https://flightsofthesoul.wordpress.com/2025/05/04/lens-artists-347-breaking-the-rules/
This is a challenging one but here is my take on it: https://wanderingteresa.com/piriandi-garden/
This is a unique challenge Ritva. I think many of us tend to use the rule of thirds and other rules that lend to nice photos, but as you mentioned, sometimes it’s fun to break the rule or do things differently. My favorites are your two images with children in them.
Ritva, you are the master of rule-based AND rule-breaking photography. Your examples are wonderful, just as your other L-A posts are amazing rule-cognizant work. Honestly, there is nothing you cannot do. This is a beautiful example of artistry, and your challenging is TRULY challenging!!
Tina, that is so kindly said, sadly not true, but I do try 😀 . Thank you
As others have said (and you yourself), so often we follow the rules subconsciously so it’s really hard to find examples of where we didn’t! I thought I quite often deviated from them, but the rule of thirds in particular is ingrained in me that I tend to frame like that almost all the time! You have some great examples here – the shot of the child and seashells is particularly creative in its approach to the subject.
Most of the ones I did find seem to break one rule only to obey another but I hope you’ll find them appropriate: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-breaking-the-rules/
I am glad you liked them , the seashell shot I took with this challenge in mind.
hello ritva
a wonderful selection you have chosen for challenge i really like them especially the first one.here is my entry for this week, https://wp.me/pfnz9O-HY.
many greetings robert
Thank you Robert.
A great idea for a challenge and I love the ones you have chosen to share.
Thank you Karina
Your photos show how challenging it is to break all the rules and get a decent shot.
Here’re mine: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2025/05/05/still-lifes-of-the-third-kind/
like you, Ritva, I found this quite difficult as I couldn’t immediately lay my hands on appropriate images. Anyway, I hope you will enjoy my resulting post:https://suejudd.com/2025/05/07/lens-artists-challenge-347-break-the-rules/
Sue I did, enjoy the post and images
This was quite a challenge for me as I’m more of an intuitive photographer and don’t tend to intentionally follow or break any rules of photography. I found some images where I broke my personal rules, as I usually avoid lit areas when capturing the northern lights: https://tranature.com/2025/05/07/tanka-sequence-when-time-is-sacred/
Well breaking personal rules is another thing, which is more serious:-)
Whew! That was indeed quite the challenge. I rarely think about the rules, I just shoot what I see/feel. But apparently, I do break the rules from time to time. 🙄📷 Here is my entry https://drphotographysite.com/?p=8104
It was, and I came up with the idea 🙂
Great challenge. I love all of your photos that break the rules. I am partial to the blurred motion ones because I do a lot of ICM photography myself. Here is my response to the challenge – https://offshoots12.com/2025/05/08/lens-artists-challenge-347-break-the-rules/
Great images and another thought- and creativity-provoking challenge, Ritva. I love the topic and the fact that it goes against perfectionism that comes with too many rules and gives room to experiments and surprising outcomes. The included suggestions/tips are also very helpful and call for a try-out! – Here comes my humble contribution:
Once again, a challenge that gives me an opportunity to showcase photos I would otherwise not put out to the public eye! How refreshing!! https://lindylecoq.com/2025/05/08/lens-artists-challenge-347-break-the-rules/
Thanks for the encouragement to break the rules. Love your shots! Here are my 8: https://fakeflamenco.com/2025/05/08/breaking-all-the-rules/
Thanks Rebecca 🙂
This was quite the challenge, which your post sets out beautifully. I thought it would be easy-peasy for an amateur like me. Bu actually – it wasn’t – so I’m just squeezing in under the wire here. https://margaret21.com/2025/05/10/breaking-the-rules/
you did so well 🙂
Thank you!
These are great photos, I think. Interesting from a perspective point of view, and well-framed. I wish I could appreciate the angled one more. Unfortunately my sense of balance is really anal about everything, haha.
Here’s my rather late submission for this one:
https://stupidityhole.com/2025/05/11/soft-structure/
I especially love the baby looking at the jar – how the focus is on what the baby’s focus is.
Thanks you Matthew, glad you liked that image