said by Splitpair 
:said by Exit :There is no lighting rule that can't or shouldn't be broken, but I agree that it's important to learn the basics before you go blazing your own trails.
I would say you fail to understand there are certain rules that cannot be broken, for example the angle of incidence is not a variable as light will work in a predictable manner based on the angle it strikes a subject, understanding just how that works is one of the keys to mastering it.
Another rule that cannot be broken is the inverse square law, it is not variable and there is no miracle light amplifier, if ones light is 5.6 feet from the subject and it is moved to 8 feet you will only have half the light to work with, move it to 11 and the light will be reduced by another half.
Another basic rule that cannot be bent is direct lighting flattens features and as the light is moved off direct it begins to sculpt.
By understanding the rules which become the basics of lighting allows experimentation with predictable results, while failing to understand the rules leaves one wondering what went wrong…
Wayne
Those weren't exactly the rules I was talking about, but you are correct. That is more the characteristics of light rather than how a person uses it to light things. Some rules can't be overcome, but sometimes people don't care either 
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