Five rules of photography that you should know and feel free to break any time you get the chance.

Sunny f/16 Rule – The most basic and time tested rule of photography. On a bright sunny day, your exposure will be f/16, at the shutter speed closest to your ISO. For example, at noon on a clear day with an ISO of 200, your exposure will be f/16 @ a 200th. For those of us using old manual cameras, a 250th is probably as close as you’ll get.

Rule Of Thirds – The cardinal law of composition. Also the most overused law of composition. An image can be divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. Aligning elements of the photograph along these lines can create a more dynamic composition.

Depth of Field – The single best way to isolate a subject is with depth of field. Again, this is also one of the most overused compositional elements. By keeping the subject in focus the background soft, the viewer has no choice but to look at the subject as the center of attention.

Don’t Split The Horizon – Never place the horizon in the center of the image. It creates a barrier between the two halves and the viewer will get stuck on it. Cutting the image in half with the horizon is the quickest way to ruin any photograph.

f/8 And Be There – The old photojournalist’s credo. If you’re not there, you’re not getting the shot. Still my favorite rule.