“Less is more.” “Keep it simple, stupid (KISS).” Even Occam’s Razor is based on the premise that the best solutions are those with the fewest number of elements. The same can often be said about photography.
I recently conducted image reviews with members of the Houston Photographic Study Group. They had created photographs based on my assignment for them which encouraged them to a minimalist composition. “Use as little as is necessary to convey what you want to viewers.”
It is normal for people to want to convey a lot, whether in images, conversations or writings. I used the latter to hopefully help explain minimalist compositions. An author can write a long book (100,000 words or more), a short book, a short story (5,000 words or so), flash fiction (150 words-ish), poetry (wide variation of lengths), or a haiku (17 syllables). Which is correct? The one that works. I then shared the legend of Hemingway responding to the challenge of writing the shortest story possible. His story: “For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.” There is doubt as to whether he actually wrote that, but there is no doubt as to the impact of such powerful brevity.
What is the visual equivalent of powerful brevity in photography? Ask a hundred photographers and you will receive at least 200 answers. The number of elements? The lack of variety of colors or tonalities? The bold differences between colors and tonalities? The dramatic use of light and shadow? The lack of contrasting light and shadow? Take a look at this site for some examples of images specifically selected for being of a minimalist nature. In keeping with my premise about opinions, I don’t agree that all the images there are consistent with my interpretation of the concept. That matters not a whit.
I’m a fan of using what I consider minimalist compositions, which is odd for a guy who can take five minutes to say hello. I like stories; I like gnarly conversation. I like those things when I like to have them, which is not all the time. Oftentimes, most times, I prefer minimal conversation, silence, solitude, aloneness. Good conversation is made better by periods of silence in between.
Trying to say less is a good exercise, whether in writing, conversation or photography. Regarding writing, I often refer to the editing of re-writing scene in the movie, A River Runs Through It. “Half as long,” is great advice for many forms or expression. The answer in photography is not to simply crop tighter. It involves looking for the essence of what formed the inspiration. That requires changing positions when taking the photograph, seeing the light differently as it helps “make” the images (photographers are “light” “drawers,” after all), attending to the most essential elements, choosing focus and depth of field to put the viewer’s attention right where you want it…and so much more. Think “haiku,” not “epic poem” like The Illiad.
In a noisy world, full of messaging of all type, a minimalist approach to creating photographs can provide a creative space of calm.
More of my photography, a lot of which is minimalist in nature (in my opinion), can be found here.
(Images and text (c) Dion McInnis)