The
popularity of minimalism cannot be denied, although it can cause quite mixed
feelings. In his article, photographer Spencer Cox shares some of the main
reasons for this trend, as well as a few tips for maximizing the use of style
in photography.
Minimalism sends your message to the viewer
One of the
first recommendations for a photographer who studies composition is to form
your own special message. What should your photo bring to the viewer? What emotions
or thoughts should arise when looking at a picture? And, most importantly, how
can you simplify this message and convey it as efficiently as possible?
For many
photographers, minimalism is the answer. Minimalistic photographs most often
have several things in common. Firstly, their color palettes are not
distracting; usually there is only one or two primary colors that attract
attention, or the photograph is generally monochrome. In such images, as a
rule, rather large areas of negative space - empty areas in the image.
Secondly, the main objects are most often small. They are not always detailed
or clearly defined, with sharp transitions that separate the object from the
background.
In macro
photography, whether you like it or not, minimalism in the final frame is
indispensable. This is due to the fact that many of the above elements are
present in the macrocosm - uniform colors, significant negative space (due to
the shallow depth of field ) and very clearly defined objects. Not every macro
photo is minimalistic, but it is a good example of the genre where such a style
of shooting is something completely natural.
Minimalism in photography: advantages and disadvantages
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Nevertheless,
minimalism can be found in any genre of photography, the main condition is the
presence of negative space. If you want to take minimalistic shots, the first
thing you should pay attention to is the empty areas that you can use as a
background for your main subject. Does your final photograph contain only one
or two objects on an unobtrusive background ? Then you hit the right target!
Minimalism works on small screens
People use
phones to search for content more often than ever before, and many
photographers have changed their style to meet new demand. On small screens,
the minimalistic style of the images works just as well as there is not so much
space for complex details on them. One object on a monotonous background in the
photo will stand out much easier.
On the one
hand, this is a little sad, because in this way the viewer is deprived of the
opportunity, for example, to view a detailed landscape in close-up - and this,
I must say, is a unique experience. At the same time, people will always
change, and it makes sense for photographers to keep up with the times.
Minimalism
in photography: advantages and disadvantages
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+ 24 mm f / 1.4 @ 24 mm, ISO 100, 1/640, f / 4.0
Great Symphonies - Complicated
Think of the
greatest works in history. From Beethoven's symphonies to Michelangelo's
frescoes, almost all of the most famous works of mankind have a huge level of
complexity.
Of course,
you should not compare such masterpieces with amateur photography, but one
thing is certain: minimalism only takes you away from this. Of course, a
minimalist photo may look good on Instagram, but its simplicity complicates the
process of conveying a much deeper thought than you “read” from the surface.
How many
great photos can you remember right now? And what about minimalism in them? Of
course, some amazing photographs, say, “ Afghan Girl ”, are clear and
understandable, but they can’t be called simplified or minimalistic. If they
were all the same, they would hardly have had the same deep emotional impact on
the viewer.
There are
documentary series of shots, with one or two minimalistic photographs, and this
is almost always done in order to convey one particular moment (object) as
clearly as possible. But the apparent lack of information in the image in this
style makes it difficult to show a more subtle and complex view of the
photographer on the world. And this, of course, is reflected in their success.
Minimalism
in photography: advantages and disadvantages
NIKON D7000
+ 24 mm f / 1.4 @ 24 mm, ISO 180, 1/160, f / 1.4
Minimalism can quickly become obsolete
With the sheer amount of minimalistic photos posted daily on
platforms such as Instagram, it is not surprising that this style of
photography is already starting to tire many people. If every second photograph is a minimalist picture with
the same composition, how can you expect someone to see in it a magnificent,
unique art?
Perhaps this
is not entirely true, because the fact that minimalism is becoming obsolete is
not its fault - the reason is that many photographers use it literally all the
time. If you are trying to avoid an overabundance of minimalism in your photo
project, the situation can be easily fixed. Take some simplified photos if they
beat a particular subject well - but don't forget about photos in some other style
too.
Minimalism in photography: advantages and disadvantages
It can be
too much even for a crowd of hyperminimalists! But this is just an example of
extreme abstraction. NIKON D800E + 70-200 mm f / 4 @ 200 mm, ISO 100, 1/1000, f
/ 8.0
Conclusion
Minimalism
cannot be completely eliminated. It can also be useful if you are just starting
out in photography. Minimalism can add a sense of meaningfulness, which was not
previously observed in your photographs, to make the composition more carefully
thought out. He will help to master the basics of photo art.
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