When it comes to photography, simple and simplistic are not one and the same. Images can be simple yet tell a very complicated story. Similarly, images can be composed of a single element that contain a very intricate shape, pattern or gradient. Minimalism in photography can therefore be a complicated style to master. You have to be able to create more with less. As a result, your ability to tell a story effectively becomes a lot more difficult.
James Popsys does a fantastic job in covering the topic of “simple” images. One of the key points he makes is about the impact of minimalist images on photography as a whole. For example, when we view photos on Instagram (other social media), we tend to be distracted by other things. We may have the TV going on in the background, listening to music or any number of other things competing for our attention. The point that James is trying to make is that our ability to deliver a message has become a lot more important. The collective attention spans of our audiences have decreased and minimalist photography can help us deliver our stories in a less convoluted, more direct way.
His point about simplicity not always translating into removing things from images is also important. Sometimes, adding a “simple” subject can help sharpen the overall message in our images. For example, he shows how capturing birds can add intrigue and tie the elements of an image together.
Ultimately, I believe James’ message is about balance. Minimalist photography is a very useful tool in our creative arsenal. It is definitely a method to help sharpen our senses and enhance our story telling abilities.
Check out the video for more information and a nice body of work exemplifying the points he is making.