How are viewers influenced by rules, and what are these rules?

If you photograph a desk to sell it and place someone behind the desk, no one will initially look at the desk. There's an order to visual elements that we prioritize when viewing a situation. We immediately recognize people and animals as subjects. So when framing your shot, you need to consider what you want to show.

Bright colors and fast-moving subjects demand attention. Professional photographers are constantly aware of how and what they show and know exactly how visual language works. They also use photographic techniques to build an image.

Photographic Techniques

One way to influence how your image is experienced is through the use of sharpness, selective use of lenses and perspective, and the use of light and dark.

Sharpness

By using fast lenses, you can photograph with a large aperture opening and therefore limited depth of field. This allows you to place sharpness exactly where you want the viewer's focus to be.