News |Minimalist Photography: Embracing Simplicity in 2025s

Minimalist Photography: Embracing Simplicity in 2025

Less is more: elevate your photography with simplicity.

minimalist photography
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In a world where more people are practicing photography than ever, it can often feel like there is an endless sense of competition, where every photographer must outdo the person next to them. But with certain kinds of photography, that’s not always the case. One such example of this is minimalist photography, a practice that has grown steadily and involves a more subtle approach.

What is Minimalist Photography?

Much like it sounds, minimalist photography is all about capturing simple images and placing more of an emphasis on basic visual components, removing unnecessary saturation and creating a more relaxed final image. This can be achieved by focusing on the general, overall composition – field of view, light, lines and shapes all come into play here.

Additionally, large areas of empty space can also be used to draw the viewer’s attention to the centre object, whatever that may be. In fact, many minimalist shots are limited to just one subject, and this also makes the image easier to study, naturally drawing the viewer in.

How to Compose Minimalist Shots

There are a number of ways in which a photographer can choose to capture a minimalist shot. The first way is simply to experiment with different camera angles and consider the way in which some place more emphasis on the subject.

For example, a close up of the subject’s eyes could be considered minimalist if on either side of the frame the space was left blank and void of any attention-shifting surroundings. Another example could be a wide shot of a lone tree atop a hill, or a piece of furniture in an empty room.

One aspect of minimalist photography that cannot be overlooked is the use of colour, or lack of in this case. The more colourful a photo is, the easier it is for our eyes to wander to different parts of the image and become distracted in doing so.

While this can often be a captivating way to engage your viewer, it often means that the subjects of the photo are not highlighted enough to really stand out. But if you mute the colour palette in post-production, or simply remove the colour altogether, you will really notice just how much more the centre objects in the frame stand out.

This is because the lack of colour places a gentle emphasis on the lines, shapes and overall lighting in the image, creating a distinctive photograph that would fit nicely into the minimalist genre.

Of course, the aforementioned factors will play a key role in this, so it is best to analyse the image as a whole and simply see what works best.

Less Gear, More Focus

The lack of equipment required for minimalist photography remains one of its most endearing elements. While it may be tempting to carry around the typical tools of the trade – whether that be a heavy tripod, camera bag and an extensive array of lenses, the minimalist approach to all mediums dictates that less is more, and photography is no exception to the rule.

As such, minimalist photography affords you the freedom to travel lighter and quicker, provided you have only the basic equipment to hand. This is particularly helpful if you plan on shooting in areas that are slightly harder to access or don’t want to draw too much attention to yourself when shooting.

Reducing your gear down to the essentials will also provide you with an enlightening sense of photographical freedom. For example, instead of worrying about which lens or camera to choose for which photo, you will have more time to observe your surroundings and more time to experiment in your shots.

Furthermore, your choice of camera and accompanying lens will play a key role in capturing the minimalist look, and there are many of both on the market, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Naturally, this begs the question – what kind of camera would be best suited to minimalist photography?

Well, as an agile approach is important, the Sony Alpha 7C II makes a great case for being the go-to minimalist camera.

Despite being a powerful machine, especially with its 33-megapixel full-frame sensor capable of capturing high-fidelity shots with fine detail and low noise levels, the 7C II is highly regarded for being a lightweight camera due to its compact size and simple design. In fact, it the smallest full-frame camera in Sony’s current Alpha lineup, making it the ideal choice.

Furthermore, it also features a classic but sleek design that perfectly complements its minimalist aesthetic, with less buttons and dials to worry about when shooting. And with its supporting features like fantastic autofocus, impressive stabilization and high dynamic range, the 7C II is something of a portable powerhouse. It is therefore no surprise that so many minimalist photographers refer to it as their ideal camera.

But of course, no camera is complete without its lens. And there are a number of lenses out there, but for a minimalist photographer on the move, a 35mm prime lens is the ideal candidate in this scenario, perfect for capturing minimalist landscapes and wide shots. More specifically, the field of view that a 35mm lens on a full-frame camera like the 7C II provides is slightly wider than what we would naturally see in our forward line of vision.

The result of this is that shots captured on a 35mm prime lens often carry a more relaxed and natural appearance, which are some of the ideal components of a minimalist photograph.

This is particularly the case when comparing a 35mm lens to a 50mm lens, as the latter offers a narrower field of view which isn’t particularly desirable when capturing those wide, minimalist landscapes. But why are prime lenses preferable to zoom lenses in minimalist photography?

Well, in a similar fashion, prime lenses offer the photographer more agility, as they are significantly lighter and less bothersome to carry around. In conclusion, there are many elements to consider when planning a minimalist shoot, and these tips should serve you well in your journey to becoming a minimalist photographer.

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