I grew up a “good boy” who always tried to follow The Rules. Later I experimented with “coloring outside the lines,” so to speak. Actually I pretty much made it a rule of not following the rules! I’m grateful I no longer feel compelled to be that way but still have a healthy skepticism for how things “should” be.
Photography comes with rules too, some very practical (“Be careful of your eyes when pointing directly into the sun”) and others based more on someone’s sense of aesthetics (“The image should always be in sharp focus”). I have found nearly all these rules can be broken if only to discover why they came into existence.
In breaking the rules I often see some interesting results. Of course they show up only among the many that didn’t work so well. Pointing directly into the sun is generally not recommended. And yet I enjoy seeing back-lighted subjects, especially this time of year when I’m hungry for sunshine. I especially marvel at the translucent quality of so much of the natural world. To see a flower or leaf illuminated is a real gift. I have also found that keeping the background darker than the subject and and blurred can really set up a lovely contrast.
No bright sun today so here is an image of willow catkins from earlier in the week and one from last summer, lighted by softer but still direct sunlight.
I especially love the way the sunlight comes through this "Heavenly Glory" Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor) flower resulting in the bud on the left being illuminated by the blue light.
Still Learning To See 
wow – two beautiful shots, john.
Great Morning Glory shot.