Minimalist Photography.
Aug 21, 2021 08:02:07 #
Minimalist photography is a form of photography distinguished by extreme austere simplicity as has been described by Wikipedia. It focuses on the smallest number of objects in the composition and in a large proportion of cases it uses more negative space than we are used to. Here are some guidelines to get us started.
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SIMPLICITY…
• Negative space…
• Powerful composition...
• Isolation...
• Color...
• Lines and shapes…
• Interplay of lights and shadows…
Keeping it simple does not mean a boring result, as a matter of fact many first prize have been won in competitions using this approach to photography.
The way negative space is used is radically different to what we have been using in the past. Negative space is an important ingredient in minimalist photography.
A powerful composition could be as simple as applying the rule of thirds. It does not necessarily mean the rules have to be followed. Use your taste and imagination but must of all convey your feelings about the subject.
Isolating the main subject or the center of interest brings more attention to the image. By eliminating all unnecessary background you make a more powerful photograph.
Color tends to brings great impact to the image. In this respect just remember that warm colors attract the eye. A good example would be a person using a red umbrella in a snowed field which is absent of other subjects.
Lines and shapes are only guides to using composition as we know them. When used in a good visual design they offer great impact and depth to the image, especially the leading lines.
Chiaroscuro describes the contrasting interplay of light and shadows, brighter and darker tones used to create beauty in visual art, music, dance, and theatre and film. In art this interplay produces greater solidity and dimensionality. ... The beauty is in the balance of lighter and darker tones
Do not expect good results if you have not developed a good eye. Minimalist photography requires attention to details and learning to see and isolate your subject. A great exercise is leaving your camera at home and looking for subjects you are familiar with. Look at those subjects carefully and try to find a motive to photograph them in a simplistic way that conveys what attracted you to them. Any camera and any lens can do this type of photography if you have developed and trained your eyes to seeing the subject.
When you begin to look at your new images it could surprise you what you have been missing. All of a sudden you are discovering new patterns, paying more attention to colors, simplifying and improving your selection of subjects. Photographic opportunities are readily available around us if only we could see instead of looking.
I was prompted to try this type of photography in my work after reading “Photography and the Art of Seeing” by Freeman Paterson and “The Practice of Contemplative Photography” by Andy Karr and Michael Wood and believe me, I have spent more time trying to see than photographing, developing the discipline of better observing my subjects. Simple observation in a relaxed atmosphere has taught me more than using my camera. Do not become a happy trigger, always observe your subject and how it reacts to the light before squeezing the shutter.
There are books to help those interested in learning this type of photography, well written articles and even useful videos on this subject. Judy Hancock Holland is a Vancouver based, Canadian photographer that has specialized in minimalist photography. You can find her work in You Tube.
I am posting some images following the principles of minimalist photography, some of them shot in the past when I was not well aware yet of what I was indeed photographing or how to better present my subjects to the viewer. I am no expert in this type of photography, I am learning so I still have a long way to go.
I hope you will find this useful and that it will serve you to improve on your photography and the new images to be made and I hope minimalist photography will open your eyes to a new way of seeing and photographing.
1- Shot during a visit to Quebec, Canada.
2- Shot at Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida.
3- This one is from Hutchinson Island, Central Florida.
4- Mallorca, Spain.
5- San Antonio, Texas.
6- Wynwood, Art District Miami, Florida.
7- The last one was shot in my backyard.
.
SIMPLICITY…
• Negative space…
• Powerful composition...
• Isolation...
• Color...
• Lines and shapes…
• Interplay of lights and shadows…
Keeping it simple does not mean a boring result, as a matter of fact many first prize have been won in competitions using this approach to photography.
The way negative space is used is radically different to what we have been using in the past. Negative space is an important ingredient in minimalist photography.
A powerful composition could be as simple as applying the rule of thirds. It does not necessarily mean the rules have to be followed. Use your taste and imagination but must of all convey your feelings about the subject.
Isolating the main subject or the center of interest brings more attention to the image. By eliminating all unnecessary background you make a more powerful photograph.
Color tends to brings great impact to the image. In this respect just remember that warm colors attract the eye. A good example would be a person using a red umbrella in a snowed field which is absent of other subjects.
Lines and shapes are only guides to using composition as we know them. When used in a good visual design they offer great impact and depth to the image, especially the leading lines.
Chiaroscuro describes the contrasting interplay of light and shadows, brighter and darker tones used to create beauty in visual art, music, dance, and theatre and film. In art this interplay produces greater solidity and dimensionality. ... The beauty is in the balance of lighter and darker tones
Do not expect good results if you have not developed a good eye. Minimalist photography requires attention to details and learning to see and isolate your subject. A great exercise is leaving your camera at home and looking for subjects you are familiar with. Look at those subjects carefully and try to find a motive to photograph them in a simplistic way that conveys what attracted you to them. Any camera and any lens can do this type of photography if you have developed and trained your eyes to seeing the subject.
When you begin to look at your new images it could surprise you what you have been missing. All of a sudden you are discovering new patterns, paying more attention to colors, simplifying and improving your selection of subjects. Photographic opportunities are readily available around us if only we could see instead of looking.
I was prompted to try this type of photography in my work after reading “Photography and the Art of Seeing” by Freeman Paterson and “The Practice of Contemplative Photography” by Andy Karr and Michael Wood and believe me, I have spent more time trying to see than photographing, developing the discipline of better observing my subjects. Simple observation in a relaxed atmosphere has taught me more than using my camera. Do not become a happy trigger, always observe your subject and how it reacts to the light before squeezing the shutter.
There are books to help those interested in learning this type of photography, well written articles and even useful videos on this subject. Judy Hancock Holland is a Vancouver based, Canadian photographer that has specialized in minimalist photography. You can find her work in You Tube.
I am posting some images following the principles of minimalist photography, some of them shot in the past when I was not well aware yet of what I was indeed photographing or how to better present my subjects to the viewer. I am no expert in this type of photography, I am learning so I still have a long way to go.
I hope you will find this useful and that it will serve you to improve on your photography and the new images to be made and I hope minimalist photography will open your eyes to a new way of seeing and photographing.
1- Shot during a visit to Quebec, Canada.
2- Shot at Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida.
3- This one is from Hutchinson Island, Central Florida.
4- Mallorca, Spain.
5- San Antonio, Texas.
6- Wynwood, Art District Miami, Florida.
7- The last one was shot in my backyard.
Aug 21, 2021 08:05:52 #
Aug 21, 2021 08:07:33 #
Excellent! I have always like this kind of photography and dabble in it from time to time.
Aug 21, 2021 08:13:43 #
Aug 21, 2021 08:16:45 #
Aug 21, 2021 08:22:07 #
Good post. i agree with your suggestions for minimalist photos but yours seem to complex for my personal concept of 'minimalist'. Just my opinion.
There was a contest winner the other day, forget which publication, probably one of the wildlife/nature publications, that was a black and white of just an alligators snout and eyes showing above the water. Took me a while to see it but WOW when it finally popped out. If I can find it will send you a link.
Thanks for the post.
Wasabi
There was a contest winner the other day, forget which publication, probably one of the wildlife/nature publications, that was a black and white of just an alligators snout and eyes showing above the water. Took me a while to see it but WOW when it finally popped out. If I can find it will send you a link.
Thanks for the post.
Wasabi
Aug 21, 2021 08:38:30 #
Aug 21, 2021 09:00:19 #
Aug 21, 2021 11:21:06 #
I like the set but don't consider the images to be minimalist for the most part.
Aug 21, 2021 13:24:44 #
Aug 21, 2021 15:12:37 #
Aug 21, 2021 15:30:37 #
camerapapi wrote:
Minimalist photography is a form of photography di... (show quote)
Awesomely minimalist shooting
🆒🎁💎🎁🆒
Aug 22, 2021 04:09:51 #
Wasabi wrote:
Good post. i agree with your suggestions for min... (show quote)
Same here, too complex. Even the round window is vaguely minimalist in my eyes.Aug 22, 2021 05:53:57 #
Aug 22, 2021 06:10:47 #
camerapapi wrote:
Minimalist photography is a form of photography di... (show quote)
Great set of images!!!!
The best way to open eyes is to close mouth !!!
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