Feeling dated?
Sometimes I think our views on photography can be a little outdated. I like to reformat my brain every so often and try to look at things from a fresh perspective. For instance, a few days ago I was reading a great article in this month’s Shutterbug about Holga cameras. It reminded me of my first camera. So I got out my old camera and spent the next couple of hours looking over photos I took some 30 years ago. I have to admit, it put a smile on my face. I think all too often we complicate our art, our passion, by cluttering our minds with hard fast rules and guidelines, and forget why we first started taking photographs. For me it was a creative outlet that allowed me a few hours a week to escape, to create and to make something for myself. It sounds selfish….I know. In the last few years, I’ve enjoyed sharing this experience with many of you. Recently I decided to challenge myself to get better. And now I want to challenge you. The next time you’re buying a soda, a pack of gum, a carton of milk, I want you to throw in your cart a sweet little disposable camera. Now don’t let this disposable go to waste: I want you to go out and have some fun shooting with it. Let the creative juices flow and don’t clutter your head with the “27,400,000 url’s” preaching composition. Here’s an idea: don’t think at all. The beauty of camera like this is it’s simplicity so just shoot for fun. You might just surprise yourself. I know I did.
You don’t know where to buy a disposable camera? Don’t worry, I have you covered. I wish I could put a Holga camera into the hands of all 5,000 plus readers, Facebookers and Twitter fans, but the reality is I only have two to giveaway. So here’s the deal, I want you to drop by my blog and simply make a comment to this effect…”I’m breaking the law” or something like that. I’m going to draw two winners this Monday, but remember, you can only be eligible if you post on my blog.
If you think you can’t do much with a Holga camera, then check out Erin Antognoli’s work HERE for some inspiration!
Another case in point: Not many people took the iPhone camera seriously. I mean, what can you really do with it? It has limited scope – not unlike that of the Holga. Well, photographers like Chase Jarvis have changed all that. He’s helped make the iPhone and it’s abstract photographs hip. Now we have millions of “snapshot” photographers taking photos competing with us more “experienced” photographers. How dare they! How can millions of amateur photographers take better pictures than me? I mean, I know the rules of thirds and they don’t. It’s not fair! Well, get over it, because the lines are getting blurred. Today, it’s all about thinking outside the box. Education and awards are nice, but raw talent and vision will be the catalyst to tomorrow’s super shooters!
One last reminder, this Friday I will be announcing the new contest for November so get ready to have some fun!
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Breaking the rules leads to new discoveries!
i'm breaking all the rules!
I would live to try this camera out!!!!
I just got mynew cannon stollen at a school function that i was volunteering at last night!!!
Im sad and had lits if puctures that i wanted to take during Halloween of my girls….being a three time cancer survivor, i have been through worse but, truly love taking pictures and feel beat down today!!!
Thank you forthe opportunity to win one! (fingers crossed)
I broke the rules/law this weekend when I took close up shots of quilts with my wide angle lens and camera still set on landscape. Worked out great! I got the detail I wanted with no flash to wipe out the colors!
I love BREAKING THE LAW!!!!!
Kelly
kellywivell@yahoo.com
John, I think your vision through the photograhic medium is awesome and inspiring. I'd love the chance to work with a camera like the Holga.
I broke the rules/law this last weekend when I used my wide angle lens to shoot photos of quilts close up with the camera set on landscape. Worked great! I got the detail I needed without the flash to wipe out the colors.
Oh… by the way. Using a camera like the Holga is like breaking the LAW!!!!!
Hi John,
I love breaking the rules and the law with regards to blazing new ground and working outside the box. Perhaps even if I don't win your contest, I can say that i have made some great vacation pictures with disposable cameras!!
I'm finding a jury of my peers and then breakin' the #%$&*@# rules!
I break the law each and every day I wake up and go outside to take pics, knowing I am doing something not right is the thrill of the hunt, for the perfect photo…
Breaking the rules is what I'm talkin about!!! I edit my photography to the ninth degree so that it becomes a piece of Digital art. I love it and shoot for fun and for myself first and foremost. I totally agree that the future of photography is a changing. Look at the photo forums online and you see incredible talent from amateurs who are using point and shoots.
I break the law of what photography is..thru my digital photographs @ a wheelchair sitting view. All pics break rules of artistic normality.
I can't help but think outside the box – I live outside the box!
Rules are just guidelines, right? I am always looking for how to push the rules to the limit and beyond to make what I want come to life in my vision – It's all subjective – the beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Breaking the rules can lead to new discoveries within the creative mind. Will allow expression unique and interesting.
Henri Cartier-Bresson said: "Your first 10000 photographs are your worst."
I want to reach 10000 with an Holga and have fun.
For all those who are not going to win the Holga, you can try the effect at http://www.picnik.com/
and the result will be something like this
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1847799&…
I broke the law and the law won!
You have to break the rules to find a new way of doing…enjoy your blog.
If I win the Holga, my first order of business is to find a good subject, backlight it horribly, center it perfectly and put the horizon smack dab in the middle of the composition. thirds?..what's that?….then, I'm going to find a jury of my peers ………….
I"M breaking the rules too! Just started doing photography but I'll break any and all rules to do something I love!
I'm turning over a downed leaf or two and breaking ALL the rules!
I "broke the rules" by taking a disposable camera to my friends wedding in Hawaii. Everybody else had large, expensive "quality" cameras. There I was taking a picture and winding the film to take the next shot! I would love to work with a Holga camera…to explore something new with photography.
It's experimenting every day, with new light, new places, new subjects. What rules? How do we learn if we don't go out of the box?
Like the song says… "I broke the law.. and… the law won!"
Wooohooo!!!! My Wife's Pregnant and We're breaking the rules!!! I'm planning to do a maternity shoot for her…any advice??!!! A Holga Camera would make some cool Preggo Pics…ahemmmm!!! Hint Hint…
”I’m breaking the law”
I "Break the rules" to find my limits and in the process I expand them…
If I win the Holga my first order of business will be: Find a subject, place them with the light source directly behind them; center them in the frame and then put the horizon in the center of the picture. Then, I'll find a jury of my peers to see if I've broken enough rules. Thirds?Huh?
Burning the box and looking for a new angle or maybe an old one. I enjoyed the article. Thank you for sharing as I do love photography and enjoy your blog. Some of the images reminded me of my old hand made shoe box camera. The Holga looks like a lot of fun.
I LOVE Breaking rules and LAWS!!!!!
I’m turning a few downed leaves and breaking ALL the rules.
I bought my first Holga three weeks ago. My inner control freak was not happy…but I'm excited to start using it!
Living outside the box is way more beautiful!!
Ur pictures are amazing
Well, breaking the law is better than breaking your camera!!
Breaking the law & rules leads to breaking new ground! Yehaw!! oh, how me & Holga would get along….
I enjoy breaking the rules while sitting on top of the box. Some of the best photos I've gotten were while I was casually out and about – no rules, no planning…
When it comes to getting a great shot, rules seldom matter. My favorite to break is the "rule of thirds". Sometimes you need to put the subject dead center to make the image speak to a viewer. If everyone followed every rule in the book, great photographers wouldn't stand out in the crowd.
i LOVE breaking the law… i try to at least once a day!
Wow! Just checked out Erin's work ~ Amazing!!
I'd love to bend the rules!!
I love rules! I need structure!!! Who am I kidding, put me down as a rule breaker. Great idea with the disposable camera. This reminds me, I need to dig out the pinhole I made for my DSLR. The focus is soft and I am confined to a 50mm focal length but exposures measured in minutes… you can’t beat it!
I LOVE Breaking the RULES !!
I am a little crazy, and I AM BREAKING THE LAW!!!!!!
Well, I confess. I am usually NOT a rule breaker, but when it comes to photos, well . . .that's a different story!
Never have been much of a rule follower. I think, if someone says "Do it this way" I find another way to do it, so that it "speaks" to me and my camera.. I do a lot of bending the rules, even when my Boss frowns at me for doing so! I feel creatively speaking, researchers in corporate America, aren't photographers.. they have no idea what it feels like to get the "shot" that makes your heart pound. (And I don't have a problem getting that shot with a disposable)
rules are made to be broken, aren’t they??
Law? What law? Count me in!
rules??? what rules??? I don't see no *&^%$# camera cops trying to enforce how I use my camera!!! I please me, myself and I. I do not conform, heck I don't even read the manuals & if my breaking rules is annoying??? Bite me!… NO DON"T I have a phobia of vampires on Halloween. GIVE ME A CAMERA!!!!!! I'll show you rules === not!
Breaking the rules is the only way to get to your true art.
I’m breaking the law by just being ME!!!!!
I'm not a photographer… yet. I've dreamed of owning a Holga one day, because I love the effects it can create. I've been breaking the rules since I was a kid… and I hope to continue doing so until I die. I'm not young, and I'm not savvy about all the ins and outs of photography. I shouldn't be entering this contest, should I? But… I simply want to own the coolest camera there is, so I can create shots that make people stop in their tracks and listen as their heart beats wildly! Thank you for the wonderful article, John!