Minimalist Photography: Concept and Key Components

Photographic minimalism is an artistic trend that is based on a clean style and extreme simplicity. Its aim is to convey an idea or provoke an emotional response with very little resources. Compositional elements should be kept to a minimum, and those that remain should be essential to convey the concept or symbolism of the photo.

Minimalist photography can be a real challenge for the photographer, as it forces him to see the world differently and to observe beyond the obvious.

In this article we give you some visual keys on how to capture what surrounds us with a minimalist look and where to look for hidden photographic opportunities.

Visual keys to take into account

In minimalist photography there are certain elements that are worked with great precision. It's not necessary to take them all into account at the same time, but a minimalist photographer is aware of them when thinking about a their perfect shot. These elements are:

Composition

Perhaps it is the most important element and the one that needs to be taken care of the most. No element should be out of place and the framing should give the feeling of cleanliness and simplicity. If any element of the image is incorrectly placed, you will not be able to convey the concept of the photo properly. For this reason, many photographers use composition rules, such as the popular rule of thirds.

It is worth highlighting the importance of negative space, that is, the space that in theory is empty and surrounds our subject. Apart from providing  "breathing room", giving your eyes somewhere to rest, this space is an element of great visual impact. When used correctly, it can significantly reinforce the message of the photo.

Colour 

Colour can serve many purposes, as it can bring expression, emotion, feeling, character and even symbolism. Some minimalist photographers choose to work in black and white, since this eliminates an element and reduces distractions; but there are also others who decide to use bright colors and strong contrasts to give meaning to their photography. Another way to play with color and draw the eye to an element in your photo is to simply use a small amount of it.

Background

Backgrounds are usually flat and monochrome to help bring out the main element.

If you cannot find the appropriate background for your photo, you can use these other alternatives: eliminating the background by changing the perspective, working with long exposures or using very wide apertures that will blur it completely.

Textures

Textures can be the subject of your minimalist image and the best thing is that you can find them anywhere: in nature, architecture or in zoomed-in subjects.

One way to use textures is to create contrast between them. For example, you can photograph something smooth next to something rough. Although subtle, this contrast in textures can make your minimalist images more intriguing and evoking.

Geometric shapes and lines

A good element to start with minimalist geometry is modern architecture, as it presents an almost inexhaustible series of resources. Its lines and geometric shapes provide a sense of direction and energy and work perfectly to conceptualize minimalist photo frames.

Concept or idea

Minimalist photography is about simplicity on a visual level, but not on a content level. Therefore, before photographing, you must consider what story you want to tell through your photography in order to choose the right and necessary elements to express that idea.

If you compose your minimalist photo correctly, you will be able to connect with the emotions of your viewers and they will do the rest, contributing their own experience to the few elements of the frame.

In short, anyone who wants to enter this world will be facing a challenge that is undoubtedly very stimulating. Not only that, but, in addition, the results that you will obtain once you control the technique will be truly fascinating and will provide you and your audience with a visual break from the constant flood of information and visual noise that we face every day.