Conditional Love

Minimalism as Simple Geometry

Photo by © Prakash Ghai
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What is Love? I am "Not" too sure about that, but are you? People talk of love as a feeling which they get into unknowingly. It starts-off as an initial attraction and later turns into extreme concern and care for that special person. When in love, you do not tend to acquire or gain something from the other person, rather you become selfless and try to be as giving as possible. And of course, that person hardly ever leaves your mind, whether in sleep or when you are awake, in happiness or in sadness. OK, but with all of this the real question is,

Is Love really love? and well especially now-a-days? People see and learn all of this from movies and of course through real-life experiences. As soon as something similar happens with them, they jump right to the conclusion that it is "Love". Well, they don't just stop there, rather they move a step further and claim that it is "TRUE Love". How true are their claims can only be found out during testing times. In most cases they take a step backwards and re-classify their feelings as mere "Infatuation". Why? because their loved one is in trouble, or is in testing times, in bad circumstances. Rather than supporting his/her partner they just turn away from them in search of someone else who is free of all the negativity and full of optimism, carries a smile, etc etc. No one wants to accept the reality that there are ups and downs in everyone's life, and measuring, loving and judging people based on their circumstances, is being a very shallow individual yourself. I wanted to show the same scenario with the picture above where two yellow circles or two people were in a close relationship to begin with. Buy as soon as one of them ie the circle on the right started facing testing times (depicted by the triangle created by the dark shadow or problems.), the other one distanced himself from him. There are similar cases in real life and in most cases "Conditional Love" or rather "No Love At All", is being misunderstood for "True Love". In the past, I have had many friends face similar issues in their relationships. What is your take on it? Why is it that people are so shallow now-a-days? Some are even afraid to fall in love. Share your thoughts below. I would be happy to read your insights.

Composition

The shot falls under Minimalism as Simple Geometry category. I tried to use negative space a little differently this time, I placed it between the two circles. Getting the Triangle created by the shadow right, was a little tricky, as a) I was in the middle of a busy street loaded with traffic and b) Shadows change very very fast and If I had taken more time to shoot, the shadow might have engulfed the entire circle and that kind of a shot would have had less visual appeal. 

Love Arranged By Nature

Minimalism as Less Elements

Photo by © Prakash Ghai
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They met by accident in a lonesome by lane of a busy street. The moment he saw her, he knew she was very fragile and required immense care. He too was fragile as his relationships in the past had not worked out. They met again but very little words were exchanged between them. There was a lot of eye contact. Their souls had identified each other by now and they both felt a connection. The more they spoke to each other over the next few days and months the more they got closer and found how similar they were in so many ways. Their choice of clothes, music, food, view on life, on art were just the same. They were both surprised to learn it. They realized that their bond was really strong and there was no need to say those magical three words "I love you", remaining silent was sufficient.

They could read and communicate with each other using their minds. All was going good but then there was a problem. A very big problem. The problem was, how could all be pre-decided and fixed beforehand? How could it be possible that they both found exactly the kind of person they were looking for, for over a decade? It was unbelievable for both. And so, doubts crept in. The relationship therefore was still hidden from others and not made public, which is depicted here by the "Shadow" of two birds, rather than their real word image. Their Love was arranged by Nature and therefore, they wanted to wait for more signs, more time in the relationship to be really sure before making a public announcement of their love.

Composition

In the shot below, I used my usual Canon 55-250mm lens and did some contrast and color adjustment in an editing software. At first, I was shooting the real world image of the birds but then to their left, I spotted their shadow being cast and therefore I changed my shot.

Of course the rule of thirds has been followed here by placing a) The minimal sky on he top and b) the bird on extreme top right. I could have avoided the black bar below but again it adds to the image. It kind of balances the vast space yellow covers in the frame and compliments the little blue sky by contrasting to it. And there you have it a Minimalist Photo of two birds in love.

Love Story

Minimalism as Simple Geometry

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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A Minimalist Photo of Two pipes in close proximity or in love, against a red wall.

He was struggling in his Life. He wanted to achieve what he had dreamt of, but he did not have that special someone to share his success with. Therefore, his efforts lacked conviction. He met her by accident and there was an eye contact. She immediately knew he was the one. For him, he just could not look beyond her eyes and those eyes became his reason to live, his reason to work, his reason to dream and achieve big. His life, now had a purpose. She accepted him the way he was. She was not interested in his past. The bond was instant and deep.

A few years later, the man's dreams were realized. He had made it to the top. And the eye contact lasted forever. If you carefully see, tow lines or pipes to whom I was referring as him and her, enter the frame from the left against a red wall, red meaning struggle. The closeness of the two pipes depict the trust they had in each other.  Once they traveled some distance together towards the right of the frame, they took that giant leap together by moving upwards, which was a result of her conviction in him. He generally used to look for a safety rope before climbing a mountain. She was his safety rope. He knew this time that all the risks he shall take will pay off. Well, the general perception today is, where there is money all is merry. But they forget that one cannot buy love. Their perception is wrong. In fact it is the other way round and I quote: "Once there is love, everything else eventually falls in place".

Composition

The above Minimalist Photograph falls under the Minimalism as Simple Geometry category of Minimalist Photography. The Simple Geometry being Lines.

I sat down on my knees and went very close to the subject. Light was poor, so I increased the ISO a bit. I actually took this shot horizontal but ended up posting it as a vertical one. I flip-flopped it about 18-20 times to see at what point do the lines connect the most to my sub-conscious mind. Going upwards was the answer. It is a very simple composition with lots of negative space. Remember to look for pipes against colored walls the next time you go to a mall or a shopping complex or even a friend's house.

Other Minimalist Photos with Red as a Primary Color:

- Challenging Circumstances

- Low Hanging Twig of A Plant Against a Red Wall

- Open Door and Water Outlet on a Red Wall

Forgotten Love

Minimalism as Less Elements 

Photo By © Prakash Ghai


This shot is from my garden. I spotted this as a curve to begin with. Curves are usually associated with women. And some of them are just as tender and fragile like the plant shown in the photo. When I observed carefully, I noticed how the plant was leaning against the wall, taking support from it. That gave me the title and story i.e "Forgotten Love". 

This is a story of a tender, fragile, feminine, loyal woman, who loved with all purity. But, she did not have luck by her side. He broke her heart and her world got stripped of all joys and color(hence, black and white). The heartbreak made her so weak that she couldn't even take care of herself. Therefore, she is now taking support of her friends (or the wall), represented by the plant leaning on it. 

A word on the Minimalistic Composition

This is Minimalism as Less Elements. The curved plant is the lone subject here and empty walls have been used to create negative space. The cracks on the right, adds to the drama and the monochrome nature of the photo, intensifies it.