> I am not sure, but I do believe Mike Johnston is trying to get across the > same thing that I am. Rules kill creativity. They are "paint by numbers", be > safe, avoid criticism, not reach out and grab folks by the guts art.
Tom, I do believe we are. Although Bob W. effectively skewered me by pointing out that MY PUG entry conforms to the "rule of thirds" (and sure enough it does!), I do think in general that APPROACHING any shot with a laundry list of "rules" or "guidelines" or WHATEVER you want to call them is a fool's errand, and not likely to be conducive to really goof work. I think the creativity of many beginners is stifled by such rules, not enhanced. And that's said with more than three years of full-time experience as a photography teacher and instructor (high school, college, and adult). But then again maybe I just have in mind "my style" of photography, and the type of pictures I like. As I've said, I don't own photography and my opinions are only that. Informed, educated opinions, yes, but still just a matter of taste when it comes down to it. So maybe other people are TRYING for the type of photography I find boring and predictable; is there anything wrong with that? I guess there isn't. We all like different things. Live and let live, --Mike
