Breaking the Rules Challenge: Portrait

[Seth Tan]

The Breaking the Rules Challenge for Viewpoint was fun. Thank you everyone who participated in it (and special thanks to those who voted for my shot).

Here are the photographic rules we've broken so far:

Rule of Thirds
Focus
Exposure
On-Camera Flash
Lens Flare
White Space
Color
Viewpoint

I would suggest the next Breaking the Rules Challenge be about PORTRAIT.

Everyone has seen portrait shots and recognize the conventions that make for a 'good' portrait. Here are a few interesting links that define some of them.

http://desmond-downs.blogspot.com/2010/05/40-rules-of-portraiture.html
http://digital-photography-school.com/10-ways-to-take-stunning-portraits

Now let's have fun bending those rules!

I start the ball rolling by submitting an old shot of mine that defies the definition of portraiture as a shot of a person/people, and challenges the convention of using the eyes as a main mode of communication. Can it be considered a portrait? Well you decide ...

The Fine Print:
(1) Contest begins today and ends May 5, 2012 @ 23:59 GMT.

(2) For consideration in this contest, entries must be taken and posted during the contest period and tagged with btr-portrait

(3) If you prefer NOT to use this contest as inspiration for your daily project, you may POST the photo entry to any date on your calendar, as long as the EXIF shows the capture date to be within the contest dates.

You can share your images in this discussion thread by copying the code below "SHARE" on your project photo page and pasting it in the discussion box here.

Hope you have fun with this challenge!

[Seth Tan]

[Amy Evans]

oooooh great challenge!! I totally need to jump in on this one!

[katy]

@sethtan I think this one should win! ;~}

[Trina P Holub]

[Liz (fotomama)]

[Disha Parekh]

Here's mine.
Just kidding. I can't actually do any portrait shots so good luck guys!

[Robyn]

@dishaparekh176 I like that one! :)

[Robyn]

[Seth Tan]

These are some submissions so far. Children are great subjects for portraits:

Lost in Concentration 2 by Leonie Mogridge


Just Like Daddy by Tina Mac

[Lesley Chisholm]

Oh great choice. I love taking portraits!!

[Ruth Moucharafieh]

[Seth Tan]

Another submission of a child, this time a rather sad one:

follow the leader by Liz(fotomama)

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

The Great Eyebrow War 2012. 2nd Attack by Mikhail Karetin

[Lorraine]

[Flagged]

[Canon Bugs]

Here's what i did so far

[Canon Bugs]

why aren't my pictures shown!?! i used the format text thing

[Seth Tan]

@canonbugs Hi! Think you need to copy the code under th SHARE Button, then paste it in this Write a Reply Box and hit Post. Hope that works!

[Seth Tan]

@canonbugs and also remember to tag the shots btr-portrait so they appear on the same page as all the other entries when searched for. Thanks!

[Canon Bugs]

@sethtan thank you soo much :)

[Canon Bugs]

[Sarah McDonald]

[Janna E.]

Sounds really cool! Too bad this one is not in the date frame ;):

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

#183 by Emily Tull

[John Hartzell]

[Rob]

[Seth Tan]

Another Submission:

Nose Tickles by Cromwell

[Lisa]

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

big hair, red lipstick by Teresa (pocketmouse)

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

my boy by Liz (fotomama)

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

Coffee by Amy Spada

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

"Excuse me Sir... by ladyjane

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

Problem Solving-Phase II by 937katieb

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

cuddle by Mel

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

Chalk eggs by Lesley Chisholm

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

They will not grow old.... by Sarah McDonald

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

Welcome to Elmo's World by 937katieb

[Seth Tan]

Another Submission:

A moment of peacefulness by Lesley Chisholm

[Seth Tan]

Another Submission:

Eyes of a child by 937katieb

[marzenka]

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

Day 89 Cheeks by 937katieb

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

Keira by Lesley Chisholm

[Kathy Burzynski]

I think this qualifies for the BTR since the arm on the side would distract from the face. It's my very first photo with my new DSLR Nikon that I got today.

[Seth Tan]

Another Submission:

the look by 937katieb

[Jane Willis]

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

Rippled reflections by Lesley Chisholm

[Seth Tan]

Another Submission:

UP! by Lance

[Susan Bell]

Complete disengagement? Bare arms. Bright clothes.

[Susan Bell]

Can't see his eyes and a very distracting background.
Feminine head tilt?

[Susan Bell]

And one that definitely breaks rules, being only half of her face

[Tiara]

[Seth Tan]

Another Submission:

A-l-most got it by 937katieb

[Krissy]

[Seth Tan]

Another Submission:

tiny toes by 937katieb

[Seth Tan]

Another Submission:

Tired by Amy Hughes

[e.gad]

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:
Smiling is my favorite exercise by Velina

[Smitha]

..

My entry for Potrait or not..

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

Breaking the rules by Lance

[Seth Tan]

Another submission:

Remain calm when surrounded by chaos by e.gad

[Lesley Chisholm]

Here are a couple more of mine :)