Minimalist Photography
Curtis Jones
Lesson Info
11. Apex Beach - Wrap UpLessons
Introduction
01:41 2Minimalism - A Few Words to Start
01:31 3The Power of Negative Space
12:08 4Learn to See Visual Clutter
08:40 5Isolating Your Anchor
05:47 6Composing for Better Minimalist Photographs
09:27 7Choosing Gear to Create Minimalist Photographs
13:16 8Black and White the Classic Approach
08:41Working With Color
09:06 10Location Session - Apex Beach
11:50 11Apex Beach - Wrap Up
02:24 12Timing and Weather
08:24 13Common Traps and How to Avoid Them
10:29 14Post-Processing - When I Use it and Why?
17:41 15Print Your Work and Harness the Power of Minimalism
02:13 16Three Easy Exercises to Kick Start Your Journey into Minimalism
02:55 17Location Session - Sled Dog Portrait
04:05 18Sled Dog Portrait Image Review
07:34 19Sled Dog Portrait Key Takeaway
03:33 20Location Session - Arctic Drone Flight
05:14 21Arctic Drone Flight Image Review
06:36 22Arctic Drone Flight Key Takeaways
03:31 23Snowkiting In the Canadian Arctic - Location Session
06:07 24Snowkiting Image Review
08:32 25Snowkiting Key Takeaways
02:52 26Summary
03:08 27Wrap-up
01:18Lesson Info
Apex Beach - Wrap Up
I wanted to take a moment to quickly point out why I think the colour version of this image works better than the black and white version and it's not always the case that black and white is going to be the best way to process your minimalist images. And in this example in particular, there are two good reasons why I prefer color. The first reason being that this image tells a story, there's history in this image and I think that the color is what makes that angle more compelling. The Hudson's Bay company, which is the building that's represented here. Uh, they have a pretty varied history and a long history in the north and a big part of that company's brand was that bold red color. So if you take that read out, it's not exactly recognisable. That building, you know, is not as easily distinguished as any other building you might find on a snowy landscape. There's a very particular um, connection to that red. So I wanted to include that read. It was important for me to keep it in there...
to create that more interesting image. Secondly, I think that the red in this situation helps us focus our attention on the main subject, which is the boat. It really pops off the screen and you're gonna see with the black and white image that if you take the color out, you still can see that there's a shape there and you will you will see that it's a boat if you look closely enough, but it's not instantly recognizable. So if I show you the black and white, you'll see that there's just sort of a dark shape in the lower right and then there's, you know, that building off to the side on the left also kind of shaded and dark, but you know, even though the weight and the balance of the composition is all pretty much the same as the colour version, there just seems to be less focus and attention moving to the boat. It's not instantly recognizable. And and with these minimal images, that's one of the things you do want to shoot for the color version of this, I feel because of that pop of color really has the advantage over the black and white. And those are the two biggest reasons why I would use color in this situation. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah.
Class Description
Short on time? This class is available HERE as a Fast Class, exclusively for Creator Pass subscribers.
AFTER THIS CLASS YOU’LL BE ABLE TO:
- Understand and apply the fundamentals of creating strong minimalist compositions.
- Use negative space with intention. Establish mood, control balance in your frame, and elevate your subject from the visual clutter.
- Avoid common traps that can lead to flat or boring minimalist images.
- Explore how much information to keep and how much to take away from the image before it loses impact.
- Understand common gear and technique choices that complement the minimalist style.
ABOUT CURTIS' CLASS:
Do you ever wonder why certain photographs linger with the viewer long after they see them? Why sometimes the smallest point of interest makes the biggest impression? How so much “nothing” can feel so compelling in a scene? Minimalism photography techniques can add a powerful storytelling element to any genre, they can evoke emotion, and bring balance to your frame. Using Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic as his backdrop, this class will outline Curtis’s approach to creating stronger images with a minimalist mindset.
Learn to use the creative techniques of minimalism to intentionally account for every inch of your frame. Discover how to minimize clutter, work with negative space, and master visual balance to boost the overall impact of your compositions. Working in a clean visual style students will learn to look for strong anchors, shapes, and lines while eliminating visual distractions. Curtis will share his experiences and images from some of the world’s most remote destinations to help kick-start your journey toward simplified, cleaner photographs that capture the essence of our world.
WHO THIS CLASS IS FOR:
- Beginner and intermediate photographers interested in outdoor and landscape photography.
- Photographers who want to understand and create with elements of minimalism to help capture the strength and essence of your subject.
- Photographers looking to create cleaner, simplified images that leave an impact on the viewer.
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Lightroom Classic (8.4.1)
Adobe Photoshop CC (20.0.8)
Ratings and Reviews
Student Work
Related Classes
Reviews
user-3b9448
This is a brilliant course which I can highly recommend. I have done some Minimalist photography but still found the lessons very interesting. I enjoyed the discussion on colour vs. B&W. My favourite part was to learn how long it takes to plan a shoot, wait for the right conditions, even change the subject if the initial idea doesn't work and see the other images taken during the shoot before (or after) the final image. The presentation is excellent - love the cat :-).
Bradley Wari
Great Job! Great course! loved the bloopers, had a few laughs. I really enjoyed how he showed a little of how he worked the scene of a few of his images. showing multiple images and how he got to THE shot.
Deb Williams
Great class, good length and easy to follow along. A fantastic way to challenge yourself to look at composition differently and a course full of useful tips to try out.