Toronto Photography Meetup Group

TPMG.CA
It is currently Wed Oct 22, 2025 4:33 pm

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 11:44 am 
Offline
TPMG SUPERSTAR
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:49 am
Posts: 2012
Location: Leaside
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 0 time
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!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:52 pm 
Offline
Official TPMG Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:37 pm
Posts: 468
Location: Burlington
Has thanked: 1 time
Have thanks: 3 times
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastyorkphotography/
mikefellh wrote:
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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:12 pm 
Offline

Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:32 am
Posts: 188
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 0 time
Flickr: www.500px.com/workprints
Break the rules, not the canvas.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:52 pm 
Offline
TPMG Administrator
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 5:26 pm
Posts: 3379
Location: Burlington
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 11 times
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/christopherbrian/
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."


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:37 pm 
Offline
TPMG SUPERSTAR
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:29 am
Posts: 3415
Location: James in RH
Has thanked: 2 times
Have thanks: 2 times
Flickr: http://goo.gl/cahhK
+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".


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:47 pm 
Offline
TPMG SUPERSTAR
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:49 am
Posts: 2012
Location: Leaside
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 0 time
utsc2006 wrote:
but why is he in the shower?? lol


Being brainwashed.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:24 pm 
Offline
Official TPMG Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:37 pm
Posts: 468
Location: Burlington
Has thanked: 1 time
Have thanks: 3 times
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastyorkphotography/
mikefellh wrote:
utsc2006 wrote:
but why is he in the shower?? lol


Being brainwashed.


That's a stretch... How artistic :wink:


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:45 pm 
Offline
TPMG ARISTOCRAT
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:45 pm
Posts: 5371
Location: Etobicoke
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 10 times
Flickr: www.flickr.com/potatoeye/
ions wrote:
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

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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:53 pm 
Offline
TPMG Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:26 pm
Posts: 1155
Location: Toronto
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 10 times
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanfaust/
utsc2006 wrote:
+1 ..... but why is he in the shower?? lol


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.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:38 pm 
Offline
TPMG SUPERSTAR
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:49 am
Posts: 2012
Location: Leaside
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 0 time
I contacted the creator of the video about the shower scene, and the is his response:

Quote:
Ha ha, Mike! I love the allegory of brainwashing that you suggest, and wish I'd thought of it. So true. But my intention in including it was to emphasise that shooting 'raw' is the best practice. Many people out there still hold to the (scientifically unsustainable) belief that shooting RAW doesn't afford any significant advantages over shooting JPG. Rubbish! In Oz we say that when someone is naked they are 'in the raw'. Cheers.

Rob Smith


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:29 am 
Offline

Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:32 am
Posts: 188
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 0 time
Flickr: www.500px.com/workprints
His video is shot with rule of thirds composition...........


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:38 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 17, 2006 9:19 am
Posts: 627
Location: Brampton
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 0 time
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/m2c_photography/
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.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:18 pm 
Offline
TPMG Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 11, 2006 3:50 pm
Posts: 8965
Location: Ajax
Has thanked: 3 times
Have thanks: 25 times
Flickr: www.flickr.com/lxdesign
PotatoEYE wrote:
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


well said!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group