Quote of the day: “What’s really important is to simplify. The work of most photographers would be improved immensely if they could do one thing: get rid of the extraneous. If you strive for simplicity, you are more likely to reach the viewer. ” ― William Albert Allard
Rocks and water
October is a month of vivid autumn colors. So it would make sense that my photo-heart connection for October would be bright and colorful, right? Not so! It came as a total surprise to me when my favorite photos of the month were all black and white.
Ah—simplicity—my heart sang.
Simplify! Simplify! That message came to me from all directions this month—blog posts on composition (including Kat Sloma’s post on Framing a Flower), a photo assignment to take a walk without camera and pick one thing to go back and photograph later (from Doug Beasley’s Vision Quest Cards), simple photos of others that spoke to me, and the gentle whispers of my heart that drew me to pick simple scenes like the rocks and water above.
I’ve heard this message before and thought I understood it.
But I heard and experienced simplicity differently this month, more deeply, more like my heart speaking to me directly. Perhaps it was the right time. Perhaps I reached a developmental milestone as a photographer. All I know is that I feel like I made a leap of understanding about photography that makes me look at my work with brand new eyes and strive for clarity and simplicity in my images.
Water Lily Leaves and Fallen Leaves
Simplification sounds easy but it’s not. It means slowing down and listening to the gentle murmuring of my heart. It means pausing and sensing the deeper story waiting to be told. It means connecting deeply with all that surrounds me.
What a revelation! What amazing depths remain for me to explore!
Spiral and Star
12 Comments
Zena (healingmoments) · November 1, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Wonderful photo-heart connection. I so relate to your words, Beautiful photos too.
Marilyn · November 1, 2012 at 11:47 pm
Thank you. I’m glad my words spoke to you.
Deborah · November 1, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Amazing images! Very inspiring and thought provoking.
Marilyn · November 1, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Much gratitude for your encouraging words! Thank you.
Kat Sloma · November 2, 2012 at 3:02 pm
I love it when those leaps of understanding come! It’s like a catapult to a new level – scary and exciting at the same time. Congrats to you for recognizing it, that’s not always easy to do. And I agree, simplifying is not easy to do either. In our photographs or our lives. Our tendency can be to want to fit it all in, yet everything is so much more effective when you simplify. Thanks for sharing in the Photo-Heart Connection this month!
Marilyn · November 4, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Yes, those leaps of understanding are to exciting. Thanks for sharing your learning – it is an inspiration to me.
Sandra · November 4, 2012 at 6:52 am
I like this simple and calm shot and somehow, the black and white images adds another dimension and joins so well what you say. How wonderful to see and capture simplicity. It sounds as if you have reached a new level of understanding as all that is superfluous falls away.
Marilyn · November 4, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Thank you Sandra. I have made a leap of understanding and I have much yet to learn.
Paula · November 5, 2012 at 11:47 pm
Beautifully written. Just yesterday, I was working through an exercise to identify my own voice in my art/photography. I realized that so many of the pieces I liked, and then pulled to analyze, evoked simplicity. So many of them had what I call “empty space” and I realized I’m shifting in my approach and my style. Well done, and gorgeous shots!
Becs · November 7, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Great post. Beautiful images, love the b&w. And agree totally about simplifying – but so much easier said than done! You’ve done a fabulous job.
Marilyn · November 7, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Thanks Becs. Yes, simplifying is easier said than done!
Cheryl · November 7, 2012 at 7:36 pm
What a timely reminder. I have to wonder if the simplified photo gives us, the viewer, room to imagine and to allow thoughts and emotions to come in to the space and speak to us right where we are at.