Light Square Vs White Circle

Minimalism as Simple Geometry

Minimalist Photography by © Prakash Ghai
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A Black and White Minimal Art Photograph of a Square formed by Light versus a Small White Circle

What better gift can you get from nature as a Minimalist Photographer than a Square created by it. It just cannot get any better.

Getting back to basic forms aka Minimalism as Simple Geometry. A Square and a Circle both within a frame is such a treat for the eyes.

This shot was spotted behind the Indian Coffee House Smoking Area, at Jawahar Kala Kendra. There is an extra table there, where there is only self service.

Somewhere near that area I spotted this big Light Triangle created by Nature. Next to it was a White Circular Plate closing an electricity point.

The juxtaposition of shapes, was my immediate thought and therefore I began calculating the placement of these in my frame and at what height. I had the 50mm lens on my Camera, and what better angle to shoot this than at eye-level with such a lens.

The exposure had to be kept in mind as light and shadow combinations are tricky but I managed it OK. The technical details of the Photograph are below.

The EXIF Data of the Photo is as follows:

• Camera Model: Canon EOS 6D Mark II
  
  
• Lens: Canon 50 mm Prime Lens
  
  
• F-stop: f/7.1
  
  
• Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec.
  
  
• ISO speed: ISO-800
  
  
• Focal Length: 50 mm
  
  
• Metering mode: Spot
  
  
• Exposure program: Manual
  
  

Hope you enjoyed the Light Square Vs White Circle  Minimalist Photograph.

Thank you for your time. Have a Nice Day !

White Balloon Vs Windows

Minimalism as Less Elements

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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A Black and White Minimal Art Photograph of a White Balloon Vs the Windows at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur.

Here one can spot the Juxtaposition between two Geometrical Forms:

a) Circle ie the White Balloon Vs 

b) The Squares aka Windows.

The White Balloon that you see, was very far from the wall and it was continuously moving. So I had to take quite a few shots to place it properly in the frame. 

Also, you can see a little perspective distortion as I was multi layering the shot and moving quite a bit. I chose not edit the perspective/line distortion, as I generally don't do it and also because it looks somewhat OK to me.

The EXIF Data of the Photo is as follows:

• Camera Model: Canon EOS 6D Mark II
  
  
• Lens: Canon 50 mm Prime Lens
  
  
• F-stop: f/18
  
  
• Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec.
  
  
• ISO speed: ISO-500
  
  
• Focal Length: 50 mm
  
  
• Metering mode: Spot
  
  
• Exposure program: Manual
  
  

Hope you enjoyed the White Balloon Vs Windows  Minimalist Photograph.

Thank you for your time. Have a Nice Day !

Six Steps

Minimalism as Simple Geometry

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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A Minimalist Photograph of Six Steps of one of the two Entrance Staircases at Hawa Mahal Jaipur.

This Minimal Art photograph is an improvement over the earlier Minimalist picture that I took at the same place of the same staircase "A Call from the Unknown". 

In the earlier photograph, there was a lot of Negative Space and was a very low angle shot. But in this Photograph, you see that I am shooting somewhat top-down and the amount of Negative Space is less. 

Also, by adding the 2 Steps turning towards the left and making them disappear after that, I have tried to create some sort of Mystery in the frame to engage the viewer. 

Because, I am showing Pure/Simple Geometry as a base in this Minimalist Photograph, therefore, I classified it under the Minimalism as Simple Geometry  category of Minimalist Photography.

The EXIF Data of the Photo is as follows:

• Camera Model: Canon EOS 6D Mark II
  
  
• Lens: Canon 24-105 mm Prime Lens
  
  
• F-stop: f/16
  
  
• Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec.
  
  
• ISO speed: ISO-500
  
  
• Focal Length: 35 mm
  
  
• Metering mode: Spot
  
  
• Exposure program: Manual
  
  

Hope you enjoyed the Six Steps  Minimalist Photograph.

Thank you for your time. Have a Nice Day. !

Old House Bell

Minimalism as Less Elements

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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What we have here is a Minimalist Photograph of an Old House Door Bell with Long Shadow on Textured White Wall

I captured this shot somewhere near Nandpuri Jaipur.

I remember I was on my Scooter and I had my helmet on while I snapped this. 

Actually, its a little risky clicking pictures of houses in broad daylight. People spot you easily and then they turn up to fight with you. 

So, I have devised this strategy to hang the camera in my neck while I ride the scooter with the helmet on, so that no one recognizes me when I snap a picture right outside their house.

Even If they spot me sometimes, because I am on my scooter, I quickly disappear ;)

I think I had talked about this shooting style in my earlier posts. 

Its Peak summer in Jaipur now and I like summer months to click such shots.

During hot summer afternoons, I can click these shots more easily as everyone is indoors protecting themselves from the heat. Mind you, the temperatures here go up-to 45 degrees. 

I don't mind the temperatures as such. Anything for Photography ;)

I decided to snap this Old House Bell because this invokes an emotional response as a subject. You know what I mean.

Other motivating elements were:

a) the White Textured Wall and 

b) the Long Shadow Underneath.

Hope you enjoyed the shot.

Thank You

Two Triangles Vs Lines

Minimalism as Simple Geometry

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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This Sunday I was invited by my photographer friend Manav, to Jawahar Kala Kendra for a Photowalk.

Initially I refused, because I had already taken many shots at that place. But because I was feeling tired to go out to a far off place, I agreed.

When I reached Jawahar Kala Kendra, my friend was already sitting with another acquaintance enjoying a cup of coffee.

Before I greeted and joined him, I took about 15 minutes of solo time searching for subjects.

It was a challenge for me, as I had already shot most part of the building. After 10 minutes I realized that I could not find anything worthwhile to frame.

So I tried going in for "creating my own subject" via "visual layering" or "overlapping of surfaces" method. Never heard of these terms before? Never mind, these are my own terms.

I stood right under the structure that had two identical floors with attached balconies, one to my left and one to my right. I started to look up and I kept moving to my right until I had Two Triangles being made by the cut/opening in the wall structure of the floor on the right.

Now, Lets look at the lines on the left. These lines were created by a similar opening in the wall of the floor on the left. If I had moved forward, then Two more similar Triangles would have been created.

Well, I let these lines just take their place in the frame. Didn't fiddle much there. 

I basically worked on the size and placement of the Two Triangles on the right, primarily by my physical movement. My movement included all four ways i.e forward, backwards, to my left and to my right.

After about 4 shots, I got the frame that I wanted. 

The Photo falls under the Minimalism Type: Simple Geometry. The Simple Geometric shapes being Triangles and Lines. 

The lens used here is Canon 100mm Prime L Series Macro Lens.

Camera Used is Canon 600D Crop Sensor. 

Hope you enjoyed the shot.

Have a nice day.

Another Shot from the same angle 

• 10 Squares 2 Triangles

White Staircase

Minimalism as Simple Geometry

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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Staircases are one of my Favorite Subjects when it comes to Minimalist Photography. 

 

This White Staircase I found at the "Jharkhand Mahadev Temple" located at Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur, India. 

Apart from the above shot, I have clicked many other Minimalist Photographs from this place. The architecture of the Temple is very simple  and geometric.

I guess in old times, people understood the value of Simplicity and Utility. And of course, since this is temple area, it need not be very modern. 

I like going to this place often, for the vibes are amazing. You must visit this small Temple for sure when you land up in Jaipur sometime for a vacation.

Coming back to the composition, the Minimalist Photograph of the White Staircase above, falls nicely under the Minimalism as Simple Geometry Category of Minimalist Photography / Minimalism. 

The Simple Geometry being Lines and its combinations. The subtle texture and dirt on the staircase and the White wall, creates  a nice artsy feel.

I took this shot a little from the side, to create a sense of depth. I have kept everything basic and simple this time.

Hope you enjoyed the shot. 

Stay tuned for more.

Distant Brown Chair

Minimalism as in Small Objects

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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I met a blogger at an Instameet recently and we discussed a few blogging basics that day. While on my way back from that technical meeting, I stopped at Cafe Coffee Day - Civil Lines, Jaipur, which is very near to my house. 

I thought it would be a good Idea to have a chilled glass of my favorite Tropical Iceberg Coffee.

So I ordered one for me, along with a Chicken Sandwich. To sit, I chose the window seat right next to the  billing counter. 

While I was waiting for my order to arrive, I noticed some reflections in the big wall to wall glass window adjacent to my seat. 

I thought maybe, there was a Minimalist Shot in those reflections. After composing a few frames roughly through my eyes, I decided to stop trying as the clutter was way too much. 

Meanwhile, my order arrived. 

The famous tagline of Cafe Coffee Day goes "A lot can happen over Coffee". 

Well, it played out quite well for me.

After, about 4-5 gulps of Tropical Iceberg Coffee, I noticed this Distant Brown Chair, through the glass window next to me. The Chair was placed inside the small room of the Security guard of the building.

Although it was night and the light wasn't much, thankfully the security guard's room had this bright white illuminating light falling on the Distant Brown Chair. This presented me with a great opportunity to capture a decent Minimalist Photograph.

I was on my 100mm Canon f2.8 Macro Lens (affiliate link). I set the lens to "Manual Focus" and punched in the following settings to take the shot:

Camera Settings: 

 

• ISO speed: ISO-400

• Exposure time: 1/20 sec

• F-stop: f/2.8

Well, in the end I was satisfied with the composition and now I can safely say that at least for me "A lot did happen over Coffee".

More on the Minimalist Composition

a) Minimalism Category: Minimalism as in Small Objects, the small object being the Distant Brown Chair

b) The Rule of thirds* is not applied here. The brown chair is placed almost in the center. 

I broke the rule. :)

*I always mention that one should never place subjects in the center of the frame. But here, I did place the subject in the center and the reason is: the Vertical White Rectangular box, within which the Distant Brown Chair is placed, makes the chair appear Off-Center visually. I hope you understand what I mean with "appear off-center visually, despite being in the center.

Also, both ends of the frame, i.e left and right are dark and blurred, that further justifying the lack of rule of third requirement rule.

With that "Off-center and Rule of Thirds MESS", its a wrap for the day !

I send you all warm greetings from India once again, its really cold thanks to unexpected winter rain :)

Blooming Plant

Minimalism as Less Elements

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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Minimalism and Nature is a beautiful Minimalist Photography theme. The more you click such photographs, the better you feel.

Nature Heals !

Hope this year, I will cover more Nature Photographs. I do plan to buy a Canon Macro Lens, and that I am sure would help me in achieving this :)

So What made me click This Blooming Plant Minimalist Photo this particular way?

The slight curved lean of the green plant on the white wall crossed my eye and I stopped right near it. 

Now, the question was, whether to take a vertical shot with just the plant and the white wall, highlighting the curve keeping the photo strictly Minimalist? OR to experiment a little?

I decided to experiment a little. 

Right next to the plant you see this rough brick pattered wall. I initially thought of taking that as a separate Minimalist Shot, but then, I improvised and merged the two Shots that had crossed my mind. 

The result is the above Minimalist Photograph of the Blooming Plant.

The plant was kept to the left of the frame in the corner, following the "Rule of Thirds". The bricks were kept to the right. 

Note, how the empty plain white wall acts as an opposite, to the fully covered rough brick wall. 

That, also added to the Art Element and Aesthetics of the Photograph.

As for the Minimalism classification, The photograph falls under the Minimalism as Less Elements Category of Minimalist Photography. The only elements being a) The Blooming Plant and b) The Brick Patterned Wall

Hope you enjoyed the post.

Stay tuned for more. :)

Tea Stall

Minimalism as Few Distinctive Colors 

Minimalist Photography By © Prakash Ghai
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A Minimalist Photograph of Colorful fabrics used by a Tea seller to protect and cover his Tea Stall/ kiosk from heat.

I was returning home on a Sunday afternoon after capturing some nice Minimalist Photographs at Jantar Mantar, Jaipur. On my way back I stopped at the road side "Tea Stall" to have a cup of Indian Chai, or Tea.

It was about 12.30 pm in the afternoon and it was really very hot and sunny. I had the camera in my lap still switched on and I was looking at the streets hunting for a street shot for some street photography, for a change. Something prompted me to look-up and when I did, I spotted this colorful mix of cloth and plastic. I knew this was an opportunity to capture a Minimalist Photograph.

This was being used as a temporary cover/shed by the Tea Seller by the street, to protect his customers and his kiosk from the heat of the Sun or Rain. The customers could now sit in a comforting way and enjoy Tea at his Tea Stall.

I captured this shot sitting on the chair, which is kinda funny isn't it? Sometimes I get really lazy.

I also made sure that I gave the brighter color i.e yellow, more space in the frame and arranged the pattern carefully in the frame using onscreen grid lines.

This photo falls under the Minimalist Photography Category: Minimalism as Few Distinctive Colors.

Another Minimalist Shot taken at the same location: Hide and Seek

Zigzag (Minimalism using Architecture)

Minimalism as Simple Geometry

Photo by © Prakash Ghai
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A Black and white Minimalist Photo of the Side view snippet of an old traditional builing at Johari bazaar, Jaipur 

Primary intention here is to show lines and the geometry in the structure. This Shot was captured at one of the most famous Bazaars (or shopping market) of Jaipur i.e "Johari Bazaar".

Johari Bazaar is host to some of the best Jewelry in the city. The traditional architecture is a key highlight of the Jewelry market and a lot of tourists come here for its admiration. Of course the classic and ever so unique jewelry designs are a must to explore by any tourist visiting Jaipur city.

Placing the subject was a little tricky. I had to tilt and re-adjust the camera multiple times to get the frame that I wanted. The tip is, never to be satisfied with just one shot. Try and take multiple shots from different angles. 

Another reason to take multiple shots is, when you open some shots on your computer screen, they look entirely different from what you saw on LCD screen while shooting.

Hope you enjoyed this Black and White Minimalist Photograph. 

Stay tuned for more.

Black and White Minimalism

Minimalism Type: Less Elements

Black and White Minimalist Photography by © Prakash Ghai
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Black and White Minimalist Photography using Less Elements and Negative Space to amplify the attention on the subject.

To compose, I placed the subject on the right, where I have primarily  interpreted the subject as intersecting lines. The torn hanging cloth adds to a bit of a story or lets say art effect to the image. To Edit this and make it look this way, one needs to simply slide up both the contrast and the brightness slider. The contrast slider a lot more, that makes the background almost disappear and makes the subject stand out. Note: don't overdo it but.