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There is still no precise definition minimalism in photography Is it a style of composition or a separate genre?

Minimalism in the visual arts arose in the 60s of the twentieth century, it is characterized by the use of a minimum number of such components as: color, shape, lines and texture. And if in the world of art, minimalism leaves a wide scope for interpretation and allows each viewer to put their own meaning into the image. That….

Minimalism in photography creates such images that the viewer's attention is concentrated on one object or a group of those located nearby. There is one main theme in minimalist shots, the idea. The main object occupies an insignificant part of the frame, leaving "air" - an empty space around it. And as a result, when looking at a picture, we focus our attention on the main object. In this way, minimalist shots can be extremely simple and, at the same time, very expressive.

Minimalism in photography is a style of photography that emphasizes simplicity, precision, conciseness, and clarity of composition.

To understand the features of minimalist photography, we suggest considering examples in different genres:

Minimalism in architectural photography:

Parts of buildings, wall with window(s) or stairs are the most attractive subjects for minimalist photographers. In combination with unusual bright colors, you can get a fantastic result. Bright contrasting colors grab your attention, while irregular shapes make you think. Typically, minimalist architectural photographs use two or three colors. The more colors you use, the more difficult it is to concentrate on any one object.

Minimalism in landscape photography:

Fields and oceans are perfect for minimalist photos. Winter snowy landscapes are a real find for those who see beauty in them. For example, naked dark silhouettes of trees against the background of white snow. You can use thick fog as a background. It will give your shots a dramatic atmosphere and hide all unnecessary details that distract the viewer from the main subject. (link how to shoot the fog).

Minimalism in abstract photography:

Photographers who shoot minimalist abstract photographs work with geometric shapes. After all, an abstract photograph does not represent an object or object completely, as in a conventional image, but only its (their) forms, color and lines. The viewer needs to abstract from the usual perception of reality in order to understand such works of art. Strong contrasting lines shift the focus and make the shots more impressive. Among the many genres of photography, this one is perhaps the most creative, requiring both parties to be involved: both the photographer and the viewer.

Abstract minimalist photography is not always something unrecognizable. Often, it can be a part of an object or a place in which something that is well known to the viewer is guessed.

Minimalism and photos of people:

Unlike photographs of landscapes, buildings and simple objects, people do not fit into the concept of minimalist photography. With their emotions and gestures, people easily violate the concept of minimalism. Therefore, photographers prefer to shoot silhouettes of people against an empty contrasting background. People are also used to emphasize the main idea of ​​a shot to make it more impressive.

Minimalism and photos of animals, birds and insects:

It is much easier to take minimalist photos of animals, birds and insects than people - they are easier with them. To achieve excellent results when shooting animals in a minimalist style, you need to use a very contrasting background or different textures. Or, using a shallow depth of field, you can greatly blur the background by focusing on the object.

Minimalism in black and white photography:

When shooting black and white photos, lighting plays a major role. Sometimes they are easier to make than colored ones. Black and white tones in minimalist photography can create different moods. Such shots can be more impressive than photos with rich, colorful backgrounds and few subjects in focus.

Color minimalist photos:

Vibrant colors always enrich photos and grab attention. Therefore, the brighter the background or object, the simpler the shapes and lines should be. Many professional photographers offer to experiment with colors and not be afraid of mistakes. Numerous attempts will teach you to feel the color and choose the right combinations.

Despite their apparent visual simplicity, minimalist photos can be very powerful and impressive. Minimalism requires certain skills, vision and creativity.

And if you have several of your own works - share them with us and our readers by posting them in.

Sometimes, when you take everything but the most essential things out of the frame, it looks very good and fresh. Quite often I got stuck trying to fill every bit of the photo with something interesting. The problem is that when we try to fill the whole frame with objects, lines, people, shapes, etc., we complicate things, and the viewer begins to dream of a place where the eye could rest.

The secret is this: Negative space can be just as interesting as anything else if used properly.

I encourage you to think about this the next time you go on a shoot. Incorporating negative space into your images can be very rewarding, but at the same time quite challenging. Sometimes everything is obvious. But sometimes you need to get creative with the correct placement of the subject in the frame to create this type of image. To give you a creative boost, here are some examples of using negative space and minimalism in photography.

Photographer Brian Matiash actually decided to create a series of minimalistic black and white images in the Staten Island area. The frame above is just one of a series. This is also a great example of a successful violation of the photographic "rule" that the horizon should not be placed in the center of the frame. Sometimes the composition and leading lines in the frame require just such an approach.

I think if Brian had composed the shot differently, with less sky and more water, the reflection of the old pier would fit completely into the image, and the pier would lose that "anchor" at the bottom of the frame. On the other hand, if there were more sky and less water, the image would become less interesting by cutting off key parts of the reflection.

I love this photo by Mike Olbinski. She's from a photo shoot he did for a family back in December (link to post). Mike wrote a post about the importance of taking family portraits and taking them now. Just a couple of months after the completion of this photo shoot, the great-grandfather in this shot passed away.

The loss of loved ones is always heartbreaking, and it is truly wonderful to know that the little girl in this picture will forever have a beautiful photograph of her with her great-grandfather. The simplicity and minimalism of the image is amazing. The light falling on the people in the picture is just enough to make the girl's features visible, and the palm trees in the background create a beautiful frame. Great shot, Mike.

And finally, a frame from my own portfolio. In my blog, I wrote about the fact that I have in my head a kind of list of shots that I want to shoot. This picture is also on the list. I didn't specifically hunt for this shot, but when I saw a hawk flying overhead, I immediately knew it could be one of the shots on the list!

I converted the image to black and white and turned up the exposure to whiten the sky completely. Yes, I intentionally created overexposures. Oh no!

Conclusion

I hope this little article inspires you to go shooting and incorporate negative space into some of your shots if you haven't already. Sometimes it's really cool to go shoot with the intention of creating a certain type of image, and get creative with that idea.

If you have minimalist work in your portfolio, we'd love to see it! Post images or links to them in the comments below. If you have something to add - feel free.

James Brandon ( James Brandon) is a photographer, lives in Dallas, loves iced tea, Chipotle and his wife Kristin (but not in that order). You can find it on his

Less is better! We've heard this old adage over and over again, and it fits perfectly as a description of the minimalist photography genre. People may interpret minimalism in different ways, but in general this style of photography can be described as follows.

Minimalistic photography tries to make sure that all the attention of a person is focused on the subject of the photo, and nothing distracts this attention to itself.

Even though minimalism is very interesting in itself, minimalist photography is still not that popular, sometimes it's hard to appreciate minimalism when there are so many things around us. But if you like this style and would like to master it, then here are some tips to help you do it.

1. Get to know minimalism

Minimalism is a philosophy, and you need to understand and know it thoroughly in order to bring it into your work. Minimalism can be seen in the style of many artists of the 20th century. Their paintings contained a minimal number of components such as color, shape, textures and lines. Among artists, this approach was considered very subjective, as it leaves the viewer the opportunity to look at the work of art from their point of view and see something of their own in it.

Some people like the absolute openness and freedom of this genre, and some talk about its meaninglessness and lack of purpose. So yes, minimalism has its fans and haters, but what genre doesn't?

The good news for photographers is that there are not too many problems here. And the reason for this is the simplicity of the moment that needs to be captured. Thus, photographers can take advantage of this minimalism to increase the impact of their art.

2. Keep it simple!

The basic rule of minimalism is to keep everything as simple as possible. There is no need to overthink and analyze things. Remember, this doesn't mean that your minimalistic photos have to be boring or lack interesting elements. Start with this - choose an object that attracts the eye. In minimalist photography, the subject is always the strongest element in the photo, even if it doesn't take up most of the space.

A great example of simple objects would be a skyline, for example, or a lone human figure against a massive wall, or even a simple photo of dry and cracked earth.

Before taking a photo, think a little about what you are going to put in the frame. At the same time, understand what you will leave behind the scenes. The space surrounding the subject will emphasize and make it stand out, so don't be afraid to cut off unnecessary distractions and move closer to the subject.

3. Use negative space in your composition

Smart use of composition will always be a plus in any genre of photography, and minimalism is no exception. One of the most important elements in composition that you need to work on in your shot is negative space. Negative space is the space between objects if there are more than one, or the space around the object if there is one.

Sometimes photographers ignore negative space and become obsessed with the subject of the photo, which frustrates their efforts. Don't let this happen to you too!

A minimalist photo should highlight the main subject, so use negative space to help you get the job done. If, for example, your subject is a pink rock against a solid background, move away from it and make it appear even smaller in comparison to the background. This will create more negative space that will put the focus on the subject.

4. Use color

Since minimalism tends to keep things as simple as possible, the only thing you can do is play with color. Your photo will still be very simple, which does not violate the philosophy of minimalism, but you can make accents using color effectively.

One of the most effective techniques is to increase saturation. If you only have a few elements, then focusing on color will be a great solution. It will attract the eye and highlight the object.

You can also use contrasting colors in your minimalistic photos. For example, orange and blue, red and green, yellow and purple. Imagine how they will work together!

5. Remove distractions

A minimalistic photo can be bad because of unnecessary distracting elements. Stick to a simple rule - remove everything that can distract.

When you crop a photo, you can cut off unnecessary details. This will not only remove all distractions, but also bring a sense of space to your photo. Keep this technique in mind, it can be used in many cases.

Sometimes, though it's considered dishonest, you can remove distracting details with Photoshop if they're in the middle of the shot. But don't overuse it.

6. Use a simple background

A simple background can be very useful for your minimalistic shots. Sure, studio backgrounds are a great way to avoid distractions, but they only work indoors.

When you're outside and the environment is constantly changing, use walls and benches as a backdrop. If you need to photograph a small object, like a flower, then you can take your background with you outside!

If you are going to photograph small objects, such as flowers, for example, then remember this: get as low as possible to the object. Make the background of your flower the sky. This technique works great.

7. Don't Forget the Rule of Thirds

In minimalist photography, it's very easy to get caught up in the rule of thirds, which is one of the basic rules of photography. It lies in the fact that you need to divide the space into three vertical or horizontal parts and try to balance the elements in relation to these divisions. Then you can direct the viewer's eye where you want.

The beauty of this rule in minimalist photography is that you have the ability to make the audience see what you want them to see in the photo.

For example, you are shooting a landscape. Try to position the horizon along one of the lines that you used to divide the space into thirds. This will give an amazing effect.

8. Don't Forget About Textures

One of the most striking features of minimalist art is texture, so why not use it in photography? Like color, interesting texture can help you create a great photo. It will draw attention, with its use you may not even need an object!

For a texture to work, you need more than just an interesting surface. You need the right shooting method.

Analyze texture as each has its own direction and use it wisely in your composition. Play with light and shadow to create contrast. You have to capture the texture in such a way that it seems to the viewer that he is literally next to it.

Bonus: 8 Tips to Help You Get Started with Minimalist Photography

1. Take a photo of the wires against the sky.

2. Find an interesting pattern on the floorboards and take a photo of it.

3. Use the rule of thirds. Make sure the horizon is on one of the guide lines.

4. Find a red rose and make it the key subject of the photo. Photograph her against a plain green backdrop to make the colors pop.

5. In winter, take pictures of fresh footprints in the snow.

6. Find a very simple background - sand on a beach, for example - and create some photo templates on it.

7. Take a picture of a window where drops of water flow down during the rain.

8. Take a photo of a tree and notice the beauty of its texture.

Bonus: Gorgeous Minimalistic Photos

“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing to add, but when there is nothing to take away. »

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, French writer

None of the areas of art are criticized so much as about minimalism. Points of view are absolutely opposite. Someone calls this genre "the highest manifestation of creativity", someone insists that this is nothing more than the degradation of art. But the works of this genre do not leave anyone indifferent.

The genre of minimalism came to photography from painting, as, indeed, most other genres. It can be considered relatively young. In the history of painting, the 60s of the last century are considered the time of the birth of minimalism. But such a statement is, of course, conditional. Works with all the signs of minimalism existed long before that (remember, for example, Malevich's "Black Square"). True, at that time they still did not have an official name.

Minimalism, like no other genre, is subjective. Everyone understands it in their own way. But still, the main signs exist. Few objects, lots of background. Moreover, the background is most often neutral, without unnecessary details. This requires careful attention to the composition. Composition is one of the most important elements of minimalist photography. As mentioned above, you need to exclude all unnecessary details from the frame. But the most important thing is to arrange the elements in the frame so that they look good and are in their place. The rule of thirds works well here. In addition, shapes can play a big role in the composition. Form alone can become the foundation of a minimalist photograph. In photographs in the minimalist genre, color "works" well. Some photographers create their photos only based on color transitions. Like color, lines play a huge role in minimalism. Vertical and horizontal lines form a strong composition and make the picture more attractive.

And in general, can minimalism in photography be called a separate genre? I would (just about, everything is subjective) better call it "style". After all, minimalist photography itself can be taken in different genres. In the style of minimalism, a landscape, a still life, a portrait, and even a reportage can be made. The works of photographers that I have chosen for examples just confirm my point of view.

Let's start with landscapes.

Akos Mayor(Akos Major) is a photographer from Hungary. Currently lives in Budapest. Travels around the world in search of a good shot for his collection. The main direction of his work - landscapes.

These are photos from the "Cold World" series. White color, smooth surfaces, brightness... From the photos it literally blows cold.

David Burdeni (David Burdeny), a Canadian photographer, also chose the cold to create his famous series "Icebergs". True, unlike the previous photographer, he tones his photos, "cools" them by adding blue.

It is clear that not everyone in life has the opportunity to photograph icebergs. But landscapes shrouded in fog can be found everywhere. Amazing series "White Noise" by a photographer from Berlin Matthias Heidrik (Matthias Heiderich) is just confirmation of this.

American David Fokos(David Fokos), one of the masters of minimalism, calls his work "photographic haiku". He believes that they illustrate traditional Japanese aesthetic concepts. Such as calmness, the ephemeral nature of things, subtle matters, lack of pretense, simplicity, freshness, silence.
From the work performed at long exposures, it really exudes peace and tranquility.

Kenga Koentjoro Hengki Koentjoro lives in Indonesia. Creates landscapes in black and white style. Mostly works with long exposure.

Todd Clasey(Todd Klassy) from America also photographs minimalist landscapes. But his style is completely different. The photographer works with bright saturated colors. His task, as he says in one interview, is to show the beauty of the state of Montana, in which he was born and lived all his life.

German photographer Bernhard Lang (Bernhard Lang) shoots his minimalist landscapes from a bird's eye view. Clear graphics, pure colors make pictures of seemingly completely uninteresting and boring objects unique.

Talking about the masters of the minimalist landscape, one cannot fail to mention the famous English photographer Michael Kenna (Michael Kenna).
Michael Kenn's style is primarily black and white landscape photographs, which he mostly shoots at slow shutter speeds. The intimacy of his photographs is also striking - the size of the photographs is only 30 x 30 cm. This size is not accidental, because Kenna believes that only one person should view each photograph.
It was about his work that one of the photo critics said: "There are two types of photography. Of these, the first creates sound, the second lacks this sound. Obviously, Michael Kenn's photography belongs to the second category. His images invite us to enter a quiet world in which the viewer gets rid of from noise - successively, one after another, all with which our world is so loaded.
As an example, I chose the work of Michael Kenn, made on the verge of merging natural and urban landscapes. Series 1999-2008 created in Russia.

The cityscape is one of the favorite genres of minimalist photographers.
Here is the German photographer I mentioned Matthias Heidrick with the "Colorful Berlin" series. It was this series that made him famous.

A German photographer works in a similar style Klaus Leontief (Klaus Leontjew).

Photographer Nick Frank(Nick Frank) was born in 1975 in Munich, Germany. I got into photography in 2010. But still does not consider himself a professional photographer. “I still have a lot to learn,” he says.

The 2012 Metro series is dedicated to the futuristic style of the Munich metro. It seems very minimalist and even surreal without passengers inside.

It would seem that the lot of minimalist photographers is only pictures of individual details of the city. But Nick Frank turned this opinion around. What could be more majestic and powerful than the famous buildings of Dubai? And here, please, quite minimalistic photos:

Belgian Philip DeVos(Filip DeVos) also shoots the cityscape. But in his works - the main line. The geometric component attracts the eye, makes you immerse yourself in the picture. In addition, the inclusion of people in the composition makes the pictures almost reportage.

And here are the works of another master of minimalist reporting. Italian Raldeni Massimo (Raldeni Massimo). Whatever the photo, then the whole story. With its own plot, characters and aftertaste.

Could not miss the amazing work of the Spanish photographer Natalie Takariga (Natalie Tacarigua), which can also be attributed to minimalism. Minimum objects and maximum movement. This is not just a frozen picture, this is life.

Still life is one of the favorite genres of minimalist photographers. It would seem that there is nothing difficult in shooting objects in this particular style. But how differently can you approach this!
Favorite color of a young Turkish photographer Anila Akkusa (Anil Akkus) is white. He is a true virtuoso of light and shadow. If not for this talent, the snow-white experiment would have been destined to fail, but this did not happen, because skillfully directed lighting creates the necessary grayscale shadows, which, in turn, add volume to white objects in the photo and make them visible against a white background.

The Spaniard Jose Maria Frutos Vargas takes a different path when shooting still lifes. He prefers surrealism. Incredible, inverted world, filmed in the style of minimalism.

Heidi Westum (Heidi Westum) from Norway simply wrote in the annotation to her portfolio: "I love macro." Look at the wonderful photos of a simple drop of water, also made in the minimalist genre.

Everything is clear with a drop - it is small, it is simply created for filming in the genre we are describing. Is it possible to take a photograph in this style, for example, of the largest land animal on earth? It turns out you can. And this is done by a photographer from South Africa Mario Moreno (Mario Moreno). And not only an elephant, but also other animals.

For an example of a portrait made in the minimalist genre, I took a series of a photographer Vladimir Katiev (Vladimir Katiev) titled "The Hidden Entity". Undoubtedly, the works from this series evoke different feelings, but they fully satisfy the requirements of minimalism.

And I want to finish my article on minimalism with a presentation of the work of one of my favorite photographers.
Gert Lawsen(Gert Lavsen) is a photographer from Denmark.
I think that minimalism for a photographer is not only a way to express his vision of the world, but it is his lifestyle. Whatever genre he takes up, there is only minimalism everywhere.