Minimalist photography basics

With each single click, we make choices about how much context to include around your subject. If stark backgrounds, fields of white space, or geometric shapes speak to you, you may be a minimalist photographer.
Minimalist photography emerged from the extreme abstract painting and sculpture of late 20th-century artists. With simple geometric patterns, strong lines, or painted color fields, minimalist artists created work that didn’t refer to anything in the real world but instead stood only for itself. Minimalist photographers adopted this stress on simplicity and limited composition elements, and then applied these principles to what they saw in the real world.
To create your own minimalist images, you must be confident that the scenes that appeal to you will also appeal to others. “It’s about focusing the viewer’s eye on a singular object or subject and eliminating white noise,” says photographer Aleks Baharlo. “I’ve learned over the years to trust my instinct and just go for it, but it’s a fearful thing to make the one subject in the entire frame occupy less than five percent of the frame while everything else is white.”

As an approach in photography, minimalism or minimalist photography can be employed by the photographer across all genres. No matter if you are a portrait, architecture, landscape, etc. photographer, minimalist photos are always an option as long as you have a minimal look toward your surroundings," -Milad Safabakhsh, Founder of Minimalist Photography Awards.

Choosing the right equipment

Take minimalism into product photography

Minimalism works well for product photography. The trick is to draw the viewer’s eye to the product while still composing an interesting photograph. Morrison looks for colors that complement the brand, or she takes products out of their usual element. “You might see something like a shoe by itself in front of a cement wall, and something is interesting about the contrasting textures of soft shoe and hard wall. The difference between those two things can really highlight certain qualities of a product.”
With few compositional elements in a product photo, the angle becomes very important. Photographers often showcase products with flatlays, or shots taken from a bird’s-eye view. “I’m also seeing a lot more three-quarters above shots,” Morrison says. These are shots halfway between overhead and eye level.”
You can also play with lighting to add drama to your minimalist product photography. “Long, exaggerated shadows, or mysterious shadows from something off camera are becoming more popular,” says Morrison.

Do your homework with what’s at home

Constraints are known to increase creativity, so don’t be afraid to give yourself limitations or embrace the ones you’re already working with. “Give yourself random assignments,” Morrison says. “Reverse engineer work that appeals to you.” She also recommends using things you have around the house to see what you can make with them. From artfully scattered tea leaves to drops of oil on paper, the simplest elements can produce beautiful images. “I pulled tea out of my cabinet, took a picture of it, and then made tea with it,” Morrison says. Just use what you have and play.

Edit with a light touch.

You’ll find more room for experimentation when you edit your photos after the shoot- Baharlo edits in a minimalist style. “To me, the editing tool is really fine-tuning the photograph,” he says. “I use simple things. Turn color pictures into black and white and exaggerate the contrast between the subject matter and the negative space.”
With Adobe Lightroom, you can make those small adjustments to contrast, highlights, and shadows, but you can also make big changes, like removing an object you don’t want in the photo. Explore the post-processing tools or try a tutorial, and make the most of your minimalist images.

Optimising camera settings is critical to convey the intended message in minimalist images. Here are some recommended settings:

Aperture: An aperture setting of f/8 is often ideal, as it provides a great depth of field while still allowing for sharp focus on the main subject.

Shutter Speed: For handheld shots, aim for a minimum shutter speed of 1/80s to minimise camera shake. For long exposures, such as smoothing water surfaces, try 3-5 seconds and use a tripod for stability.

ISO: Use a lower ISO (around 100 or 200) to reduce noise and ensure image clarity.

White Balance: Experiment with different settings to maintain true colours, which is crucial in minimalist photography, where colour can play a significant role.

File Format: Shooting in RAW format is highly recommended as it retains more detail and allows for greater flexibility during post-processing.

Extended Minimalist Photography Guide

Final Thought 

Minimalist photography is less about what you include and more about what you choose to leave out. By simplifying, you create stronger, cleaner, and more powerful images- turning the ordinary into extraordinary with just a single subject and endless negative space.