Breaking My Own Rules

I don't like to think of myself as a "by-the-book" photographer.  I never learned "the rules" of photography, mainly because of my inability to read non-fiction.  Over the years that I've been shooting, however, I must admit that I've developed a few unwritten rules for myself when it comes to photography.  One of my big ones is to avoid shooting with an ISO greater than 800, even though my camera is capable of shooting at much higher ISO settings. In fact, I try to shoot at ISO200 or lower if I can.  Sometimes, though, you have to break even your own personal rules to capture the essence of the moment.

The night I took the photo above, I had been shooting all evening with a speedlight at a comfortably low ISO of 200.  However, when I looked across the room and saw my dear friend Amy as she shared a perfect moment with her son, I didn't think that a flash-illuminated shot would do justice to what I was witnessing. I wanted to capture the scene just the way it was--dim but warm lighting and all.  So I took off my flash and cranked the ISO to 1000.  I know that's still low compared to many other people's standards, but to me it was going beyond my ISO comfort zone.  I'm so glad I broke my own rule, though, because this photo will always remind me of the peace and contentment I felt when I looked at the closeness my friend and her son were sharing in that moment.

As we embark on a new year and a new decade, I hope to challenge myself as a photographer by rewriting my own personal photography rules and by breaking the ones I've already set up for myself.  How about you? Do you have rules that you try to follow when you're behind the camera?  And have you ever broken your own rules and surprised yourself with the results?  Please share with us your rule-breaking stories and images.

Comments

[Beryl]

Its funny my rule is just the opposite of yours. No flash. I always crank my ISO. I think the world of flash scares me. I hate the "washed" out look and fear learning flash for the fear that I will get washed out photos. Now I know there are ways around that. But I have the fear of even tackling that learning curve. This year I want to break that rule. I want to buy a flash for my Nikon and learn how to use it. We'll see how that goes...

[Paula]

I'm shooting with a D70 so I'm still following your rule.

[Darlene]

This post is very timely for me. I've been getting too comfortable in my "photography comfort zone" but have been wanting to step away from the familiar. These past few days I've been sampling a different post processing technique. I'm loving the results, but it is challenging me to step away from my usual way of presenting my work. The following post has some of my "new" stuff.

http://www.whimsicalyearsphotography.com/blog/1189/playing-with-vintage-maine-lifestyle-photographer/

[laura frantz]

I've been a tack-sharp focus freak for a long time. I'm thinking lots more blur in 2010...

[Jen Lee]

really love this photo.

[DawnS]

Ditto what Beryl said...except substitute my Canon for her Nikon!

[Grey Street Girl]

I have a thing about not using flash too. And, I used to leave my camera on 200 ISO until I realized I was missing a lot of good shots because of it. I think for the sake of our art, rules are meant to be broken. :)

[Alicia]

i am still at the point where i am learning and experimenting... so i don't have a ton of rules for myself yet...

one that i could think of though is i don't let myself get my camera out when i'm on the subway. i always get a bit nervous about someone taking it or something... but here's a photo, where i broke my rule about not taking it out. i need to do it more often to master this reflection catching capture. here's the first try photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34467943@N07/3985025925/

[mosey along]

This is lovely. I always get so much grain when I crank my ISO - how did you avoid that?

[sarah]

I love "noisey" pictures so the one above looks wonderful ;-) My goals this year are to shoot more and share more. I am always so critical of my own photos but this year I will just shoot what I love and have fun with it.. find beauty in the imprefection and simple things more

[Brandi]

I've been going beyond my comfort with studio and playing with...gasp...Natural Light!

[Puna]

I love that photo. It's interesting that you don't shoot with a low ISO. I wonder why?

In any case, I shoot quite a lot from the hip, literally. I don't always look through the camera and at times it's really paid off for me.

This photo was taken almost at ground level but contrary to what some of the comments say, I didn't have to get dirty at all.

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2010/01/january-2-rising-tide/

[Kellee]

I am totally the opposite, I find that my Canon is useless (read: so grainy to become useless) above about ISO 400. So I'm primarily all about the natural lighting, and cling to my wide ap lens, or I throw on the flash. I'm guessing I need to upgrade cameras here sometime. :)

[denese]

Well, I'm not sure that my response is what I wanted it to be (above). Sorry! Let me try again.

While I was at the beach last Thanksgiving, I loved the effect of shooting directly into the sun to capture the late fall beach dream scape and my family.

Here is the url to the post.

http://dlouisianat.blogspot.com/2010/01/breaking-my-own-rules.html

[Flo]

My main rules - which may seem a bit contradictory - are no flash and the lowest ISO possible.
As for 2010, I would like to try and step out of my own style : I'm drawn to very structured photos and get easily stuck in a (visually) structured way to take them. So I'd love to explore other ways, other constructions.

The photo in your post is beautiful. The atmosphere is almost palpable.

Wishing you a beautiful new year !

[Christina Mallet]

Bravo and thanks for tweeking your rules and living to tell.

I also am a ISO200 gal and find myself with a New Year's resolution after reading your experience. Having kicked myself a bazillion times for missing many great moments, both in my personal life and professionally, because I wasn't willing to go beyond ISO400, I am now going to push beyond my comfort zone and up the ISO.

Happy New Year,

CM

http://www.christinamallet.com
http://www.katrinkas-secret.com

[Kim]

I need to get away from shooting everything with my 50mm on 1.4 I wanted this lens for so long and now that I have it I rarely take it off my camera. I just love to play around with all of the creative looking stuff that this lens helps me to produce, but I'm very aware of the fact that a lot of my shots suffer from lack of sharpness because of this. I'm going to try and break myself out of this box and see if I can improve the clarity in my work.

[marnie]

I studied at Tisch School of the Arts photography program right before digital. That makes me sound so old :) I won the big grant they give to three seniors and from there, I went on to do many things. Pretty much everything except be a full time photographer. I've never been a big technical person - even in the studio I rely on my eye over a light meter any day. But these days I shoot for more and more clients and I have to make sure that I am shooting what they want while maintaining my style. I'm also trying to get over comparing myself to my colleagues who have gone on to be the very best photographers out there. It's hard to think that they once admired me. Sigh.
So I'm trying to break the habit of comparison and embrace the technical side of photography. It will love me back. This I know is true.

www.marniegoodfriend.com

[Kiesha]

I really hate flash!!! But I know sometimes its needed. I really try to do without so here is my attempt...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zHI8FRr7k2c/S0FK7s78fOI/AAAAAAAAAEA/D_FSEB9fZmQ/s1600-h/day+3+026.JPG

[Kiesha]

I really hate flash! But I know sometimes it needed. I really try to do without so here is my attempt...


http://365bondphotos.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-3.html

[kristin]

i am a terrible night shooter. i too cannot learn from books. it is some weird stubbornness in me. no excuse really. but lately i have found myself drawn to the night. last night we were out shoveling again. it was dark. the kids were playing in the snow. the neighbor's christmas lights across the street provided a cool glow on the snow. i loved how our silly snowman looked like he was walking away headed out for the night, so i took this shot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/4243298956/
not my style and completely without my natural light comfort, yet i liked it a lot. makes me want to get better at this night stuff.

[Trude]

I almost never use flash. I actually started my dSLR journey with a Rebel and a 50mm 1.4 lens so as to not ever really have to use flash. :) I don't mind renting a fancy one every now and then depending on my needs, but I love natural light so much I'll never give it up. That said, I can't really crank mine above ISO 400 or the digital noise demons will come after me. So, more than ever, I've gotten okay with a bit of camera blur, or started thinking of ways to make a makeshift tripod (i.e. a stack of books on the floor to capture the kittens curled up together). Its not so much breaking my rules as breaking old habits!

[Kim Klassen]

it's all very new for me...but i love natural light....low aperature....

but my comment is to say... I LOVE this photo... so glad you cranked up the iso...it's PERFECT!

[Jen]

I have a love/hate relationship with flash. I know there are times when I have to use it but I love natural/available light so much more.

My 40d has terrible noise over ISO 400 if I don't nail the exposure. But recently I've "solved" this by playing with textures in photoshop:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enniferj8/4238743726/

[Sage]

I'm guilty of mostly shooting in AP with the lens all the way open. Lately I've been trying to push my comfort zone and shoot at different f-stops, in SP, and manual modes. I do not like flash and I do not like high ISO.

I've taken a lot of great shots, but they all pretty much look the same. I'm too concerned about missing the shot, and I need to take more risks.

[Valerie]

no rule. just feeling. excepted : no flash & manual settings
but then i'm only a (one year) beginner !

[Valerie]

oops I meant no flash and ON manual settings