Trite but True Bonus: Don’t blindly follow any rule more than 85% of the time

Perhaps it goes without saying, but all the rules in this series need to be applied with intelligence and sensitivity. Use them where they fit. Adapt them to your purposes and situations. Creatively interpret them. If in doubt, test them and find alternative approaches. Here’s a quick recap of our trite-but-true advice: Continue reading “Trite but True Bonus: Don’t blindly follow any rule more than 85% of the time”

Trite but True #12: Get closer

For years I heard portrait photographers recommend getting closer to the subject. I read Robert Capa’s advice: “If your picture isn’t good, get closer.” I noticed that great outdoor photographers like John Shaw and Bruce Dale applied this principle in many of their best works. Filling the frame with the subject helps it dominate competing objects, reveals intimate textures and details, and simplifies the composition. Continue reading “Trite but True #12: Get closer”

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