guidelines

35+ Rules and Guiding Principles in Photography

A primary question in photography is, “What is composition”? Photo composition governs the manner in which our eyes travel through an image. It defines how objects within an image are placed relative to each other in such a way that generates visual excitement. Used correctly, it transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Washington Reveals Guidelines for Photographers Who Want to Reopen

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has published a set of guidelines for professional photographers who want to re-open their studios as the stay-at-home order in the state is rolled back. These guidelines—the first we've seen from a government entity—could act as a template for photographers in other states who are eager to open back up safely.

4 Common Photo Composition Errors and How to Fix Them

When it comes to composition “rules”, it’s important to understand the concepts so that you have them in the back of your mind while shooting. You’re not going to jail if you break them, but you will likely end up with a better image if you follow them! This 6-minute video from photographer Evan Ranft runs through 4 common composition mistakes that photographers make, and how to avoid them.

Tips for Beginners in Real Estate Photography

If you've been interested in trying your hand at real estate photography for some spare cash between assignments, this short video guide by photographer Troy Nikolic a great place to start.

Lines Reveal the Great Compositions in Famous Movies

Want to see the composition concepts used in famous scenes from famous movies? Raymond Thi of Composition Cam has been taking still frames and overlaying neon pink lines to show things like symmetry, thirds, quadrants, triangles, diagonals, and more.

World Press Photo Disqualified 16% of Finalists This Year

The prestigious World Press Photo photojournalism contest was rocked by scandal last year after 20% of finalists were disqualified and the grand prize winner was stripped of his award, leading to the establishment of a new Code of Ethics.

Did the negative publicity and new guidelines do anything? Well, you can be the judge: World Press Photo has revealed that 16% of finalists were thrown out this year.

Photographer Joey L.’s Photos of Kurdish PKK Fighters Deleted by Instagram

Back in June, we shared a series of photos by Joey L., who made a dangerous trip to Kurdistan to point his camera at the Kurdish guerrilla groups fighting in the Syrian civil war.

It turns out that many of the photos violate Instagram's policies, not because they show violence or graphic scenes, but because they show members of PKK, a group that's listed on "terrorist" lists. Joey L. isn't pleased with the policy.

Instagram Clarifies Its Rules on Copyright and Nudity

Instagram updated its community guidelines today in order to give users a clearer picture of where the service stands on the issues of copyright and nudity. Policies themselves haven't changed, Instagram says, but the rules have been fleshed out and clarified in response to user questions and various incidents.

FAA Unveils Its Rules for Commercial Drone Usage

The FAA has confirmed a leak that emerged this past weekend by officially unveiling its proposed set of rules governing commercial drone flights. The guidelines are more lax than many people feared, and they represent a huge step toward the legalization of commercial drone flights -- including for aerial photography purposes.

FAA Changes Regulations, Will Let People Use Cameras During Takeoff and Landing

For as long as most of us can remember, the pre-takeoff safety briefing given in airplanes worldwide always included something to the effect of "all electronics must be turned off and stowed during takeoff and landing." For photographers, that meant lost photo opportunities unless you were willing to break the rules to get a great shot.