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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Horoscope Fish" data-source="post: 385215" data-attributes="member: 13090">I'm all for breaking the rules and mad creativity and all that... I just think before most of us can do that (well) we need a firm and complete understanding of The Rules. Once you understand The Rules and can use them effectively THEN you can start breaking out of the shell and exploring how to break them and still produce powerful, evocative images. But if you can't explain your composition, if you can't explain WHY you did what you did, whether you're breaking The Rules or following them, then I don't feel you're really composing. Yes, there are those who have a natural gift for composition but I believe we're speaking in generalities here and these people would very much be in the minority. I see photography students and working professionals every day of varying caliber and I assure you I see at least one-hundred students who think they can make great images without learning s--t about the rules of composition for every one that, by some freak of nature, actually can. You gotta learn to walk before you run and all that. And even those with a true natural gift for composing can still benefit greatly from understanding what The Rules are and how they are used. In short; whether you're following The Rules or breaking them, it's all about having a true and accurate *understanding*.....</blockquote>