Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition: Simplicity

The first and perhaps the most important guideline is simplicity. It is the ability to see the essential elements in a scene and to eliminate everything else. This doesn't mean that your photos have to be boring or devoid of interest; on the contrary, a well-composed photo is usually more interesting and visually appealing than one that is cluttered and busy.

How To Achieve Simplicity In Your Own photos?

There are several ways to achieve simplicity in your photos. One is to focus on a single subject or element and exclude everything else. This can be done by moving closer to your subject, or by using a long lens to zoom in on it. Another way to simplify a scene is to use a wide angle lens to include only the essential elements and exclude any distractions that might be present at the edges of the frame. Finally, you can use framing devices such as doorways or windows to create a sense of simplicity by isolating your subject within the frame. When composing your photos, remember that less is often more. By keeping things simple, you can create more powerful and effective images.

What Are The Benefits Of Simplicity In Composition?

There are several benefits to simplicity in composition. A simpler photo is usually more visually appealing and easier to understand than a cluttered one. It can also be more powerful and impactful, as the viewer's attention is focused on the central subject or element. Additionally, simplicity can create a sense of calm and serenity, which can be particularly effective in landscape photography. When it's time you're out shooting, remember to keep things simple. By doing so, you'll be able to create more beautiful and impactful photos.

Visual Simplicity

When composing your photos, it is important to think about where you want the viewer's eye to go. This is known as "visual attention." By carefully placing your subjects and elements within the frame, you can control where the viewer's eye goes and what they see first.

There are a few things to keep in mind when considering visual attention. First, contrast is your friend. Objects that are different from their surroundings will stand out and attract the eye. So, if you want the viewer to notice a particular subject, make sure it has high contrast with its surroundings. Second, movement also attracts the eye. If there's something moving in your photo, it will likely be the first thing that the viewer sees. Finally, leading lines can also be used to guide the viewer's eye to a particular subject. Leading lines are any lines in the photo that point towards the subject, such as a road leading to a mountain in the distance. By carefully placing your subjects and elements within the frame, you can ensure that your photos are composed in a way that is visually appealing and  at the same time simple.

Look for ways to give the center of interest in your pictures the most visual attention. One way is to select uncomplicated backgrounds that will not steal attention from your subjects.

Let's see how we can improve this photo by looking for visual simplicity. First let's decide if we want our center of interest to be the public telephone, the bridge, or the cactus.

We chose the cactus as the main subject. And by moving in closer and using the plain sky as the background, we have simplified and improved the appearance of this photograph.

We're certainly close enough to our subject in both pictures, but the busy background on the left camouflages the seagull. Just change your point of view slightly and, presto, your seagull stands with visual prominence against the blue sky.

Compose your photograph so that your reason for taking the picture is clearly seen. Arrange other parts of the picture area in such a way as to complement what you choose to be the center of interest. Most of us would prefer the picture on the right because the parking lot tends to contradict the feeling of antiquity related to this mission.

Remember: we're talking about composition simplicity, and here's another decision you'll probably have to make. How much of your subject should you include, and should it be framed horizontally as we have done here?

Or perhaps you'd prefer to frame your subject in the vertical format, as we've indicated with these frame lines. The choice is yours.

So, you can simplify your pictures and strengthen your center of interest by selecting uncomplicated backgrounds, avoiding unrelated subjects, and moving in close. If you want to make your center of interest even more dynamic, place it slightly off center in your frame as we have done with this young artist. Creating a strong visual focus in your photo will result in a simpler, more elegant composition. And that's the goal of visual simplicity.

Tip: when taking pictures of people, pay attention to what they are wearing. If their clothing is very busy or has patterns that clash, it will detract from the overall impact of your photo. Instead, try to have them wear solid colors that will complement the other elements in your composition. The same goes for objects in your photos. If they are too busy or have clashing colors, they will distract from the overall composition. So, when possible, try to choose simple subjects with muted colors.

Generally, pictures with subjects directly in the center tend to be more static and less interesting than pictures with off-center subject placement.

Simplicity is an important concept in photography, and can be achieved through various techniques. By eliminating distractions and keeping the focus on the subject, photographers can create images that are both impactful and visually appealing. By compositionally isolating the subject, photographers can further emphasize the simplicity of their image. Ultimately, simplicity is about creating an image that is clean, well-composed, and focused on the subject. By keeping your compositions clean and free of distractions, you can create images that are both striking and elegant.