Toronto Photography Meetup Group

With some of the absurd comments being made about creative photographs not following the rules, it reminded me of a parody of the song Little Boxes that was aimed at photographers who follow the rules religiously, especially those who belong to camera clubs and of course those on the internet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXDIOsxH28I

The original song back in 1962 is a political satire about the development of suburbia and associated conformist middle-class attitudes. It refers to suburban tract housing as "little boxes" of different colors "all made out of ticky-tacky", and which "all look just the same." In the case of the parody, "little boxes" refers to images.

Of course I don't expect to change attitudes of photographers who produce their pretty pictures using ticky-tacky techniques that make them look all the same and try to brainwash the rest of us, but for those who are more enlightened hopefully you will get a smile out of the video.

Yes, when you start photography you should learn the rules, but as you go on you should learn how to break the rules to produce even better images, and not just produce another pretty little box!

+1 ..... but why is he in the shower?? lol

Break the rules, not the canvas.

The problem with the break the rules mentality is that it is taken on way too quickly by most and by many that never should. Neophytes, and the more experienced can be guilty of this, figure because they've read a book or taken pictures for a length of time and know the rule of thirds along with the exposure triangle they're ready to break rules. The vast majority of time they do not have the talent to break them in any meaningful way. The rules, whatever they happen to be, have usually been established because of very good reasons. The Golden Ratio for example is golden for quite valid reasons. Worse, quite often in the search for creativity and originality they're broken to create something that is neither creative or original and certainly fails at being a pretty little box. I'd rather look at a thousand similar pretty boxes than any aesthetically boring blurry box where the point requires theory arbitrated by the creator. The majority of times the theory espoused is laughable. True creativity and originality doesn't need to explain itself. But that's okay... the viewer just doesn't "get it."

+1 @ions.

Just look at the history and works of Pablo Picasso and you will understand the meaning of "Know the rules, break the rules".

Being brainwashed.

That's a stretch... How artistic

+1

however, even the most obscure conceptual art has always followed composition rules, we always talk about the rule of thirds, but it's only one of many rules that are used to make a statement or draw attention. Additionally, as photographers, many ONLY think about composition rule: rule of thirds. There are many other ways to draw attention, make a statement or convey beauty: balance/imbalance, dimension, layering, colour, texture etc... and in order to make a a great piece you have to know/feel when to use what and how to combine them without negative effect

I was wondering the same thing!

Plus I need to add his little video is anything but creative, but tacks on stupid little animations that reminds me of web 1.0 with those little animated gifs everywhere!

Creativity is taking the same scene that a thousand others have photographed - applying asthitically pleasing composition (using known rules if that is what works best) - BUT finding a new or unique perspective of that scene.

J.

I contacted the creator of the video about the shower scene, and the is his response:

His video is shot with rule of thirds composition...........

Great message wrapped up in a questionable video.

Creativity is problem solving in a new way. Good creativity has the added bonus of reaching people on a personal level. The better it is, the more universal its messaging becomes. Its what separates the good from the great.

well said!