a photographer's view to the world – a traveler's blog
Last week, LAPC was about Minimalism in Black and White. When I wrote my response, I did not have the time to focus on what Minimalism in Photography is. So, I’m doing it today!
Minimalist photography, often characterized as the art of conveying greater meaning with minimal elements, simplifies an image by eliminating visual clutter. This approach enables form, light, color, and space to communicate clearly. A single subject, ample negative space, and deliberate composition serve as tools that direct attention and evoke emotion through simplicity.
This approach aligns with Zen philosophy, which emphasizes direct experience, clarity, and the elimination of distractions to perceive reality as it truly is. Similarly, minimalist photography encourages the photographer to slow down, observe attentively, and make conscious choices. Framing a minimal image can evoke a meditative state, as the decision to exclude elements is as crucial as the decision to include them. In both practices, restraint is not emptiness but focus.
Negative space in minimalist photography mirrors the Zen concept of *ma*, the meaningful gap or interval. Empty space is not merely blank; it shapes and contextualizes the remaining elements. A solitary tree against a pale sky or a single shadow crossing a wall gains power precisely due to its surroundings. Zen gardens operate in a similar manner, utilizing raked gravel and sparse stones to create a space where the mind can rest and wander freely.
While minimalist photography and Zen share commonalities, they are distinct practices. Zen is a lived philosophy and spiritual practice aimed at achieving insight and awakening, seeking to dissolve the ego and transcend duality. Minimalist photography, on the other hand, is an artistic and aesthetic practice. Even when contemplative, it often remains rooted in personal expression, visual enjoyment, or conceptual exploration. The photographer’s intention—style, mood, authorship—remains central to the creative process.
Another distinction lies in the emphasis on outcome versus process. Zen emphasizes the process itself—the act of sitting, breathing, or observing without attachment to the results. In photography, the final image holds significant importance. Composition, balance, and visual impact are meticulously evaluated, shared, and judged. While the process of creating a minimalist photograph can be mindful, it is generally oriented toward producing a completed work.
Despite these differences, minimalist photography can serve as a gateway to a more Zen-like perspective. It trains the eye to notice subtle details—how light interacts with the scene, how lines intersect, and how silence can coexist within an image. It cultivates patience and presence, qualities that are increasingly rare in our visually saturated world.
Ultimately, minimalist photography does not seek to explain or overwhelm. Like Zen, it invites us to pause, to observe again, and to discover depth in simplicity.
Recently, I saw a statement that fits here very well: “Photography does not add something, it lives from taking away.” The writer is right. Reduce an image to the necessary or even to the bare essentials.
The quote suggests that photography gains its strength not by adding elements, but by removing distractions until only what truly matters remains. This “taking away” can be literal—through framing, simplification, or reducing colors (even to monochrome)—so that form, light, emotion, and meaning become clearer and more powerful.
Don’t do this with Photoshop. Do it while finding the right frame. Cleaning up an image that way, you exempt the main subject and lead the spectator’s eye right to it.
Minimalist photos are defined less by what they include but more by what they deliberately leave out. Common features include:
Together, these features help minimalist photos communicate ideas or emotions with precision, subtlety, and elegance.
Take care!
Take care!
This is a photo, not a graphic or a drawing. It’s only converted to monochrome. In addition, it’s digitally overexposed, and I added a digital blue filter to create this graphical style. This is a variant of last week’s image. You can compare it here. The difference is amazing.
When we arrived in Stockholm, I noticed this building next to the street we were driving on. I wished to go there for some photos, but quite sure I won’t be able to find it. My son and his wife visited an ice hockey game, and when they came back, my son told me about the fascinating architecture around the arena. Another thing I was quite sure I to not be able to see. But never say never. Only 2 days later, our schedule ended earlier than expected, and my wife, as well as my son and his wife, were too tired to do anything else but go to the hotel. So, I got the opportunity to go to the ice hockey arena with about 1,5 hours of free time.
From the train, I noticed a few further interesting buildings close by, right next to the railway track, halfway between 2 stations. So, I spared those for my way back. When heading from those buildings to the railway station to go back to the city, I noticed I was only a few hundred meters away from the building I had noticed beside the street when we arrived in Stockholm. Thus, I tried to get there, and it worked.
Take care!
What a wonderful topic this week. Rivta, this week’s host, asks for minimalism in black-and-white images. I topic was simply made for me. Thus, I can’t miss it!
At first, a lot of architectural images can pop up in one’s mind when reading that topic. Thus, it’s not a surprise, Excire Foto comes up with these images.
a business building in Stockholm
theatre in Düsseldorf
an exhibition room
the entrance and exit ramp of a parking garage
a fair building
a business building in Helsinki
But also, natural scenes or details can be found:
a barley ear
a dune in Namibia
SnowEven people can be a suitable subject:
As usual, click on an image to increase it.
You know, I have loved monochrome for decades, and you can find a lot more images here in my blog when following the monochrome tag or the mmc tag.
Maybe I inspired you to dig into your archive and find some images. Which images do you have just around your corner? You can publish your images on your blog and set a link to the inspirational post posted by Ritva. Don’t forget to tag it with LENS-ARTIST, so we can find it. I hope, finally, Automattic has repaired its index. Otherwise, only the subscribers will see the posts, as so often in the past and also in the last two weeks.
Take care!
Take care!
Take care!
Take care!
This is a photo, not a graphic or a drawing. It’s only converted to monochrome. In addition, I used a quite high level of contrast to create this graphical style.
When we arrived in Stockholm, I noticed this building next to the street we were driving on. I wished to go there for some photos, but quite sure I won’t be able to find it. My son and his wife visited an ice hockey game, and when they came back, my son told me about the fascinating architecture around the arena. Another thing I was quite sure I to not be able to see. But never say never. Only 2 days later, our schedule ended earlier than expected, and my wife, as well as my son and his wife, were too tired to do anything else but go to the hotel. So, I got the opportunity to go to the ice hockey arena with about 1,5 hours of free time.
From the train, I noticed a few further interesting buildings close by, right next to the railway track, halfway between 2 stations. So, I spared those for my way back. When heading from those buildings to the railway station to go back to the city, I noticed I was only a few hundred meters away from the building I had noticed beside the street when we arrived in Stockholm. Thus, I tried to get there, and it worked.
Take care!
This week, Anne hosts Lens-Artist’s Photo Challenge. She asks us to show images laying literally just around the corner. As I’m still on sick leave, as I wrote in my “review 2025” post (LAPC 379) last week, I was unable to go outside to find something for you. On January 2nd, winter arrived. A lot of snow fell and created a beautiful winter wonderland. But I have to stay home. I still can’t sit properly. Most of the day, I lay on the couch and try to kill the time.
Instead, I show you the images I took last week:
“When the snow falls wunderbar” – just as the poem says.
That’s about 30 cm in only 2 days.It’s really a lot here for my region nowadays, where we usually have snow for only a couple of hours at maximum.
Two snowflakes meeting above my state.
A: do you want to join me going to that city over there creating some mess and chaos?
B: No. You can do it alone.
That’s a fact. Unfortunately.
On Monday morning, when finally all medical doctors were back in their offices after 2 weeks’ absence (even in 2 hospitals, where I visited the emergency ambulance, no suitable specialist was available), I went to the specialist I needed. Unfortunately, he started his retirement only 5 days before with no substitute. On my way, I took these images:
And on my way back home:
Thus, I headed to my general practitioner to discuss the next possible steps with her. The best option was to wait until Friday to see a specialist in the hospital nearby.
In the garden, the pure snowy surface was destroyed by someone.
I checked the garden camera, but with no success. Although the camera recorded a couple of images during the night, the animal that caused those marks was not captured. It’s obvious that the causing animal is active at night and about the size of a cat, but with shorter legs. Thus, I assume, the marks were created by a beech marten.
On Friday, I was finally able to see a specialist and get a diagnosis. Best part: No surgery will be necessary, but the treatment will probably last 3-4 weeks. While waiting for my wife to pick me up, I noticed this lost heart at the bus station. I suppose a former hospital patient used it first in the hospital bed and then here at the cold bus station to sit on it, but forgot to take it with her when the bus arrived.
At home, I got a Belgian waffle with whipped cream and a hot coffee.
On Monday, I have to visit my general practitioner again to see if she extends my sick leave.
All these images are taken with my smartphone. The best camera for a job is the one you have with you. As usual, click on an image to increase it.
Maybe I inspired you to dig into your archive and find some images. Which images do you have just around your corner? You can publish your images on your blog and set a link to the inspirational post posted by Anne. Don’t forget to tag it with LENS-ARTIST, so we can find it. I hope, finally, Automattic has repaired its index. Otherwise, only the subscribers will see the posts, as so often in the past.
Take care!
This year, I created a video to review my personal top images of 2025. Check it out. I hope you like it. Send me your opinion by using the comment box at the end of this page.
I know, the audio is not optimal. It was my first try, taken before Christmas. Over Christmas, a problem emerged, hindering me from sitting. As the common medical doctors reduced their availability to the absolute minimum over the holidays, I had to head to the emergency ambulance of a hospital nearby on Monday last week. Unfortunately, even there was no proper specialist available. A surgeon was the closest available doctor to the one I would have needed. At least, I got painkillers and a cream to help reduce the issue, and an appointment with the proper specialist for January 9th. But, unfortunately, that wasn’t enough. Thus, 2 days later, I had to visit an emergency ambulance again, because the situation got worse instead of getting better. So, I spent another full day in the emergency room, but this time I had chosen a big hospital instead of a local one. Unfortunately, I was faced with the same situation: no proper specialist available. But this time, the surgeon did a better job. She examined the problem better and stated that she had never seen such a huge one before. Her prescription at least helped bridge the time until Monday this week to see a local specialist. Monday morning, I got the next disappointment: the specialist doctor started his retirement on January 1st with no substitute. The next chance to see the right doctor is tomorrow. I hope it won’t disappoint me, too. From my visit to my general practitioner on Monday morning for planning the alternatives, I already know, I most probably will have to get surgery. Time will tell. Or, to say it with Elton John’s words: I’m still standing!
That’s the reason why I was unable to record it again and have to live with the test run. Writing on the mobile is possible even when lying on a couch.
This post is also part of this week’s Lens-Artist’s Photo Challenge.
Maybe I inspired you to dig into your archive and find some images. Which images do you have in your archive to illustrate a quote or a poem? You can publish your images on your blog and set a link to the inspirational post. Don’t forget to tag it with LENS-ARTIST, so we can find it. I hope, finally, Automattic has repaired its index. Otherwise, only the subscribers will see the posts, as so often in the past.
Take care!
grey heron (Ardea cinerea)/ GraureiherTake care!
Take care!
Today, I have the monochrome image taken in 2025 that I love most. It was taken in Iceland in October.
Besides raw development, conversion to black-and-white, and cropping, no editing was needed.
Take care!
This kind of fireworks is the only one suitable to celebrate.
Might this angle guard and protect you in 2026.
Take care!
Take care!
Take care!
Take care!
Take care!
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