Husband and Wife

Minimalism as Simple Geometry

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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A Minimalist Photograph of Spinning Tops on the street, used by children to play. 

This Minimalist Photograph was captured yesterday, post the Diwali festival. Me and my friend Manav went to the old walled city (Johari Bazaar) in Jaipur to take a few night shots. I was officially out for Street Photography and was walking past two middle aged men sitting on the side of the street selling this beautifully lit "Spinning Tops".

I could recall that in childhood I used to play with one of these. At First, I thought let me not take a shot but later I asked myself, Why not?

These are Circles and I therefore used them as a Minimalist subject under the Minimalist Photography category: "Minimalism as Simple Geometry".

I always try to click newer shots and not repeat my Minimalist Subjects to keep things fresh. The Tops were spinning very fast, and initially I tried to use a faster shutter speed to capture them but I was not able to create an Artsy Minimalist Shot.

Therefore,  I switched over to a shutter speed of about 1/30 roughly and an f stop of 1.8 on my 50mm prime lens, which resulted in these smoothed even out spirals or lets say Circles within Circles.

Since these Spinning Tops i.e Circles were in a pair and spinning in close proximity, so I thought why not keep the title of the post Husband and Wife. 

I have kept the subjects on Diagonal Ends and tried to leave Empty/Negative space between them this way.

Hope you enjoyed the shot. Stay tuned for newer Minimalist Photographs.

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Thank You.

Creased Plastic Cover

Minimalism as Less Elements  

Minimalist Photography By © Prakash Ghai
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Minimalist Photography using a Creased plastic cover used by a stall to block heat and sunlight.

I was roaming on the streets of MI Road, Jaipur hunting for Minimalist Photographs on another Sunday Afternoon. It has to be a Sunday, as I am mostly a Sunday Photographer who works six days a week at a retail store.

Soon, I decided to head over to the back-lanes and while I was crossing past Jai Club, I found a nice big red wall with a yellow patch on it. I took about 3-4 Minimalist shots of it but when I reviewed them on the LCD screen I was not happy, so I decided to look elsewhere.

This Creased Plastic Cover was located right above the wall that I had just given up upon. It was acting as a block for sunlight for one of the stalls participating at an exhibition being held at the club.

More on the Minimalist Composition

I made sure I placed the beginning point, (from where the plastic was starting to accumulate and crease) right at the top left corner. I connected its extending flow to the bottom right.

Yes, I was zoomed in and I had the Canon 55-250mm lens attached. Zoom aided me in doing away with the extra elements in the frame, bringing in the clear focus and attention on my subject which is much needed in Minimalist Photographs

• Similar Shot - Repeating Curves

Fill in the Blanks

Minimalism as Less Elements

Minimalist Photography By © Prakash Ghai
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Albert Einstein had said "Imagination is more important than knowledge"

Here is a Minimalist Photo that will make you do exactly that, i.e Imagine. Such Images immediately involve the brain and it tries to make it guess the complete structure or to simply put it, Fill in the Blanks.

Well, we are just programmed in such a way. This theory of filling the gaps based on guess work and was once telecasted on the Discovery channel I remember. I always keep note of such interesting stuff and whenever I get a chance I just pounce on it.

More on the Minimalistic Composition

To shoot this, you don't have to work much for the composition, rather just leave regular negative space. The majority of the hard work here involves of being extremely observant. You never know where and when you would spot such a subject. I was on a photo-walk with my friends to Jantar Matar Jaipur, and we had planned to clicked architecture that day. I spotted this right after our brief huddle. In editing I did try to pop the dull yellow wall and I guess it looks decent now. 

10 Squares

Minimalism as Simple Geometry

 

Black and White Minimalist Photography By © Prakash Ghai
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Shapes communicate well with the sub-conscious mind especially when it comes to Simple Geometry. I personally love Squares, All four sides of a square are well measured and equal, psychologically hinting at a perfectly planned and a well crafted Life. That could be my reason as to why I love Squares.

What is the Simple Geometry shape that you love? and Why? Leave your answer in the comments. That would be interesting to know.

Many observers would see this as 9 squares, but a hardcore Minimalist has the ability to zoom out and consider the window itself as 1 big Square having 9 squares in repetition within it, making a total of 10 Squares.

Perspective is what matters the most in Minimalism and a change of perspective can do wonders for your photography, not only Minimalist Photography but other compositions/photography genres as well.

Other Minimalist Photos that also contain a Square:

- Circle Square Waves

- Lines Vs Square

- Right Angled Triangle Vs The Square

- White Square

Engulfed by the Blue Sky

Minimalism as Less Elements

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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This big white window is right next to the exit of Indian Coffee House cafeteria at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur. While I was heading out I spotted this and the shadow of the trees falling on it caught my attention. I immediately realized that I had a great opportunity for creating a Minimalist Frame.

Initially, I tried composing from the front but that was too mundane. Therefore, I moved to the side and turned my camera vertical. I kept moving until I could find something worthwhile to add to the frame.

As soon as I found the red wall "Engulfed by the Blue Sky", I stopped, composed and then recomposed. Finally after some 4-5 shots, I got the frame the way I wanted.