Minimalism Photography: What is It? And How Do I Do It?
- Minimalism Photography Defined
- How to Use Negative Space in Minimalism Photography
- Change Your Angle of View to Enhance Minimalism Photography
- Minimalism Photography Camera Settings
- Lens Choices for Minimalism Photography
- Final Thoughts on Minimalism in Photography
- Recommended Photography Gear
- The simpler, the better.
- Learn basic composition rules of photography.
- Experiment with monochrome (black-and-white) photography.
- Practice minimalism photography across different photography genres.
- Use a photo editor to touch up your photos in post-production.
- When is Low-Angle Landscape Photography Appropriate?
- Use Artificial Light for Landscape Photography? Yes, You Can!
Photo by gremlin via iStock
Minimalism is a popular philosophy that started gaining notoriety in the 1960s and 70s. It focuses on simplicity, doing more with less, and living a basic (but more fulfilled) life. Since its emergence, minimalist techniques have been adopted in everything from daily life habits and design to art and photography.
But what is minimalism in photography? And how do we practice it? You will learn the answers to those key questions (and more) in this ultimate guide to minimalism photography. Moreover, we’ll share our top tips and recommend the best camera gear and settings for minimalism photography.
OK, what are we waiting for? It’s time to dive in and explore everything there is to know about the magical world of minimalism photography!
Check out the video above by Mads Peter Iversen to learn his five steps to achieving incredible minimalist photography.
Table of Contents
Minimalism Photography Defined
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Minimalism photography, or minimalist photography as it is also known, is a trendy type of photography celebrated for its simplicity and beauty. In minimalism photography, less is more, and one of the main objectives is to capture everyday items and small details that often get overlooked.
Something beginner photographers often struggle with when shooting minimalist photography is making them unique and interesting. When you have less “action” in your frame, you must ensure your subject attracts attention, and your composition is perfect. If you don’t, there’s a good chance your photos come out looking flat and soulless.
An important thing to remember is that you can adapt minimalism photography to every genre of photography. So, whether you enjoy shooting landscape, travel, portrait, or macro photography, you can incorporate minimalist techniques into your images.
How to Use Negative Space in Minimalism Photography
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A core element of minimalism photography is negative space. It is the space around the subject, and in minimalist photography, there is typically lots of “empty” space. Empty space should never equal boring, though. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! The idea behind negative space photography is that its “emptiness” creates contrast and draws attention to your subject.
In minimalism photography, a good guideline to follow is that your images should consist of at least 50% negative space. Examples of how to use natural negative space include skies/clouds, desolate deserts/beaches, large bodies of water, and walls of buildings. You can also create artificial negative space using solid-colored backdrops or manipulating depth-of-field.
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Change Your Angle of View to Enhance Minimalism Photography
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Like in all types of photography, playing around with the camera angle can drastically affect your results. So, instead of always shooting your subjects straight on, don’t be afraid to try things like low angles, birds-eye-view angles, point-of-view shots, closeups, etc.
Low-angle shots can be particularly difficult for many photographers because working from that position is uncomfortable, and standard tripods can’t be set up that low. Enter the Octopad! It’s a one-of-a-kind mini tripod alternative ideal for minimalism photography thanks to its sturdy universal support base instead of three legs.
The Octopad weighs less than two pounds, its patented design ensures it doesn’t move even on sloping, uneven, or wet/slippery surfaces, and it’s compatible with other accessories like external microphones, lights, monitors, and gimbals. For other difficult-to-shoot angles, useful tools include drones, monopods, selfie sticks, and remote controls.
Minimalism Photography Camera Settings
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Your camera and its settings can also greatly impact your photos. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand the best camera settings for minimalism photography and when to use them. For starters, we recommend getting an interchangeable lens camera like a DSLR or mirrorless camera. It will provide you with better flexibility than a point-and-shoot camera.
Camera settings to focus on for minimalist photography include the three elements of the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO), as well as color settings and file type (JPEG vs RAW files).
Creating bokeh (shallow depth of field) effects is commonplace in minimalism photography. You do this by selecting a low f-stop number on your camera or lens. Taking long exposures can also add an original look to your photos—another reason you need the Octopad to stabilize your camera!
Lens Choices for Minimalism Photography
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While a skilled photographer can take gorgeous minimalist photos with any lens, using the right one makes the job easier. Typically, the best lenses for minimalist photography are wide-angle lenses like 16mm and 24mm lenses (or wider). That’s because their wide field of view is large enough to capture both your subject and sufficient negative space.
Something else to consider is the lens’s aperture. A higher maximum aperture (lower f-stop number) means better bokeh effects and better low-light performance. Prime lenses tend to have higher apertures, making them popular choices for minimalism photography. With that said, if flexibility and focal range is a priority, a good option is a 24-70mm lens.
Final Thoughts on Minimalism in Photography
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Thanks for taking the time to read our minimalism photography guide. As a huge thank you, here is a list of more minimalist photography tips to help elevate your photography skills to the next level.
Recommended Photography Gear
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