Can’t stand looking at repetitive, cluttered photos and are in desperate need of some minimalist photography ideas? By properly using simple, understated compositions, you can turn regular, seemingly-bland scenes into artistic photos that will captivate the viewer.
In this post, I’ve put together a list of the most creative photography ideas that will get you thinking outside the box and help you take some truly stunning minimalist pictures.
Monochrome photography ideas rely on a single tone or hue. Such photos can come across as daring and impactful, particularly if you use a bold color. Consider trying out different tones of one color or simply employ a single, bold hue that will tie together your minimalistic composition.
Consider basing your simplistic photos around a bright single-toned subject placed against a muted solid-color backdrop. You can also take advantage of complementary colors photography techniques that involve using primary/secondary pairs (red/green, yellow/purple, blue/orange) to make your pictures even more eye-catching.
A splash of color against a white backdrop looks modern while using the same technique on black gives the photo a more dramatic feel. Finally, color pops against stone or wood backdrops ooze austerity.
Silhouette photography relies on taking a picture of the subject as a black outline against a brighter backdrop. Silhouettes highlight the shape of the subject while acting as the perfect minimalism photography ideas generator due to the lack of distracting details. The simplest way to achieve this effect is to have the subject stand against the light at sunset or sunrise.
Reflections add a notable dose of symmetry to the composition by mirroring the subject or scene, which makes the photo far more aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, they can create an optical illusion that the subject goes beyond its actual borders, conveying a sense of depth and artistry.
Reflection photography is a fantastic genre if you want the mood in your images to come across as calm and tranquil or tense and dramatic depending on the context of the scene.
Another tool you can use for your simplicity and minimalism photography ideas is shadows. Lengthy, disproportional shadows or shadows cast by mysterious off-camera objects can add a sense of drama and intrigue to your images.
Try placing the subject in different spots to see what kind of shadows you can achieve to make your shadow photography more unique. Consider only featuring specific body parts like a hand or the model’s face for a more minimalistic look.
Texture can be used for taking minimalist photographs in a variety of ways. For one, you can employ a textured backdrop like cobblestones, brick walls, or wooden surfaces. Alternatively, you can emphasize the texture of the subject if you're taking photos of a fashion item, a tree, or other suitable objects.
It’s also possible to create texture using lighting. For instance, you can take monochrome pictures to highlight textures or pair textured items with negative space to achieve a drastic contrast.
Contrast in photography plays a crucial role in conveying the mood you need and making sure the subject doesn’t get lost in the background. With minimalist photos, the emphasis is placed on simplicity and contrast is a great tool for creating impactful imagery while using only a couple of elements.
Contrasting hues, tones, patterns, shapes, and even ideas are all efficient tools for achieving compositional tension and drawing the viewer’s attention.
Using a specific body part as the subject allows you to take a photo that highlights the beauty and appeal of the human form. For instance, a picture of a hand or foot can represent an aesthetically pleasing and simplistic example of body photography.
A great way to highlight the beauty of a body part is to take a close-up photo and combine this idea with nude photography. Such an approach provides an additional benefit in that your minimalist image will have a sense of mystery around it since it won’t include the subject’s entire body, giving a lot of room for the viewer’s imagination.
Black and white photography can be perfectly implemented into your minimalist photoshoot. By getting rid of all the color, the photo will only contain its essential elements, inviting the viewer to appreciate the shape and texture of the subject. Additionally, B&W images have an aura of sophistication and class around them that make such photos even more artistic and thought-provoking.
Negative space photography requires the inclusion of an empty area near the subject. This technique is particularly relevant for minimalist photographs since it allows you to focus the viewer’s undivided attention on the subject. For instance, when taking a landscape photo, you can emphasize a lone tree or a bird floating on water.
Sub-framing in photography relies on employing foreground elements as framing devices that add a sense of immersion to the photo and direct the viewer’s attention straight to the subject.
If you’re more of a fan of natural frames, try to find natural objects in the scene that can be used for framing the subject. Possible options include trees, archways, doorways, windows, and anything else that has a suitable shape. The inclusion of such elements will add another dimension to your composition and make your minimalism photography more dynamic.
Strive to include patterns with seamless repetition, as they will add a sense of order, uniformity, and predictability to the shot. Architectural creations are the perfect resource for repetition in photography, as you can easily find entire patterned walls that you can include in your pictures. Stairways, benches, windows, and brick walls – are all great candidates for adding geometric patterns to your composition.
Instead of overly relying on minimalist photography ideas built around negative space, consider trying out a 50%/50% composition technique. Such an approach has you divide the scene in half – 50% negative space and 50% filled space.
Equally dividing the scene like that will allow you to take a simplistic and clean photo that still mostly emphasizes the subject. Such compositions are easiest to set up in fields and lakes.
Minimalism photography benefits greatly from the inclusion of strong lines. Learn how to take advantage of leading lines in photography to direct the observer’s glance to the subject.
The lines can go horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and be used to convey isolation, separation, connectivity, distance, or depth. Such elements can also be employed to add an impression of motion and direction to your images. You can later turn such photos into paintings with several clicks. Check out the PhotoWhoa Painterly Retouching Tutorial, repeat the steps, and you will receive a mesmerizing result.
Symmetry is among the most popular photography composition tips, as it can be used to achieve a sense of balance and harmony in a photo. Since minimalist pictures are focused on simplicity, the usage of a small number of symmetrical elements fits them perfectly.
Multiple kinds of symmetry can be used for your images including horizontal, vertical, radial symmetry, and diagonal symmetry.
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