Week 10 - Simplicity

Simplicity

Photos are not always about a story or mood. Sometimes they are simply a visual exercise. For example, I walk past this house often, and while it suggests the comforts of home, from a photography perspective, it is about simplicity. The home also has a universal feel - it could be anywhere. Nothing in it suggests its location.

Simplicity is not synonymous with minimalism, which reflects negative or empty space. It is simple because it contains only a few visual elements - the house, the tree, and the wall. The sky is an added layer, but it is not dominant in the absence of color.

Black and white, therefore, enables this simplicity. The roof is a deep red, and it becomes a separate element when represented in color. Without color, the triangular shape of the roof and the peak emerge. The square form of the windows adds order, while the body of the chimney adds depth. The tree acts as a frame. The texture of the tree and wall are evident.

Unfortunately, there are wires and a television antenna in the scene. Otherwise, this would leverage the timeless power of mono-color photography.

Perhaps this is a scene to revisit in color - with smoke coming from the chimney and warm light from the windows at dusk. A very different photo indeed.

f8 1/250 sec ISO 200 Mar 7, 2022