Thanks to everyone who helped me clear my head on my minimalist screwdriver yesterday. After further research I have re-visited the concept.
Minimalism shows the essence of something by reducing it to only the necessary elements.The MOST essential element of the screwdriver is the blade. Here focus conveys its essence, portrays its purpose.
To successfully convey our photographic ideas we need to communicate a definite point. The strongest messages are conveyed through the simplest images. The most difficult journey photographers make is to reduce the clutter of distractions in their shots. To get down to the essence or meaning of a shot is the most difficult reduction. Yet, it is the most significant of the communication skills photographers learn.
Minimalist photography reduces the contents of a photograph to essentials - displaying form and function in a very stark way. Yesterday my screwdrivers were in the Minimalist 1960's tradition. Today the same shot would be starker. Minimalism capitalises on emptiness to emphasise meaning. 'Negative space' defines the 'positive space' where meaning lies. A more modern rendering of the screwdriver would be as shown today.
Minimalism is perhaps the essence of photography itself!
Photographer, writer, teacher :: Live honestly. Progress through knowledge. Achieve by teaching. Communicate in writing. Speak in pictures. Every day, improve the world a little...
Enjoyed the minimalist lesson- I'm always having to refresh myself on that it seems. This is the most powerful of the three, and after reading said lesson, now I know why. (o:
No S#*t, this is one of the finest pieces I have seen to date on 365. This is a shot I would love to attempt to duplicate and hang. Well done Damon. A FAV in Connecticut!!!
This is very well done and def capture the essence of minimalism... as you described it because I really didn't know much about the concept until I read your caption... thanks! :)
I love this one..and i did go back and check them all out..i read your lesson on minimalist and fit the discription of "most photographer's" as far as not being able to decide on what need's to stay and what needs to go...this explanation really helps..Thank you!
