03/23/2026
Whether you're a pro or a hobbyist, the most important part of any skill is to practice. When it comes to photography, that practice can become a fun and rewarding part of your day, but it does come with its hurdles. I think a lot of people who are into photography sometimes get caught up in obsessing over The Rules. Making sure none of your white, shadow or colors are washed out; framing, pacing, visual weight... it goes on and on (and for good reason!) Those elements, when understood and curated can have incredible results! There is a satisfaction in nailing a shot when you know all your elements have been achieved exactly how you envisioned. Thats a hard feeling to describe. And yet, in the AI era there has been a leveling of the technical skill gap that may be required to achieve many of those elements. The pros and cons of that are a different discussion, but what I want to focus on today is the counter-balance thats growing in many media formats towards a more raw, unpolished, more "human" expression. Ive found myself more interested in the imperfect. To challenge myself I decided to break The Rules and practice taking more photos in my day-to-day and let the moment stand on its own. This is one way Ive been able to introduce more opportunity to practice my skills while exploring the artform in a more organic way, even without my best equipment on hand, utilizing whats available in the moment instead.
Im still a sucker for order and modularity, so I compiled them into a sort of Polaroid-style templates with digital handwritten titles on them. Its a little rememiscent of the "Inspirational Posters" that adorned school counselor office walls and early internet memes, but I still enjoy the implementation. I felt that it highlights the style by giving a context to the photo itself that adds to the casual vibe of these moments.
What are some fun ways you like to experiment and break the rules in your hobbies? Let us know in the comments below!
