ACC Pet Photography Tips

Here's some tips for taking and making minimalist photography. If you've got more we can add, please contact the webmaster.

Minimalism

  • Definition: Minimalism uses the least necessary information to depict a subject.
    • In art, Minimalism was a reaction against the more confusing abstract expressionism.
    • Minimalism in painting uses hard edge, linear lines, simple forms, and an emphasis on two dimensions.
    • Minimalism in sculpture can be characterized by very simple geometric shapes often made of industrial materials like plastic, metal, aluminum, concrete and fiberglass. These materials are usually left raw or painted a solid colour.
  • Essentialism: Seek the essence of items, the defining aspects.
  • Listen: Let the subject speak to you. Seek to convey this.
  • Intent: Start with your intent for the image, what you want to say.
  • Subject: Single subject that can be thing, feeling, concept, etc.
  • Simplification: Remove all items that do not contribute directly to the image.
  • Naivety: See things with child's eyes, as if for the first time.
  • Crop: Essence can be found within existing images.
  • Zoom: Get close but beware of macros that adds more detail again.
  • Shapes: Aim for primary shapes (circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, etc).
  • Contrast: Use luminosity, saturation, hue (colour wheel harmonies) to both separate and connect.
  • Separation: Separate items. Avoid blending, overlap and blurring unless they are essential.
  • Light: Clear contrasts, brights, darks. Not mud. Limited gradients.
  • Surface: Texture and smoothness that explain and contrast surfaces.
  • Negative space: Use it (eg to frame subject) or remove it.
  • Balance: Even with very simple image, look for balance.
  • Manage: Manage the attention and emotions of the viewer.
  • Synechdoche: Show part of an object to represent the whole. eg feet, hands, eyes.
  • Metonymy: Using an item to suggest something else, eg hand as 'help'.
  • Balance: Even with minimal content, seek balance in such as mass and HSL.

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