The Rules of Photography and When to Break Them by Haje Jan Kamps is a practical guide that teaches the traditional principles of photography while encouraging photographers to deliberately challenge them. It covers the fundamental knowledge needed to recognise and create strong images, then demonstrates how breaking conventional rules can lead to more creative and distinctive photographs.
Aimed particularly at beginner and intermediate photographers, including those ready to move beyond their camera’s automatic settings, the book focuses on developing a photographer’s eye, experimenting with established techniques and understanding why photographic rules work before deciding when to ignore them.