Minimalism in Travel Photography

I’ve always been fascinated with minimalism in photography, especially since I started travelling more regularly. Minimalism can transform a scene perceived as busy or chaotic into something focused. With a compositional change, the entire mood and impact of a photo are altered.

What is Minimalism in Photography?

Minimalism in photography is a style focused on simplicity and essential elements. It is characterized by removing unnecessary components to highlight select or sometimes singular concepts. Minimalist photography uses limited subjects, leading lines, and shapes. Limiting distractions and helping the viewer is not only about the subject; it’s what is and is not included in your photo. As colour plays a significant role in photography, you will frequently see the use of black and white to limit the focus to what is intended.

This style of photography creates a sense of emotion using minimal visual elements and can offer a new perspective on everyday subjects.

How is Minimalism Used in Travel Photography?

Minimalism can be used to make single objects stand on their own, to draw attention to an abstract pattern, both manufactured and natural, or to create a sense of vastness. That vastness can create the impression that a person is insignificant to the world.

When I travelled to Death Valley in 2015, I was overwhelmed by its size. Located in Eastern California and part of Nevada, Death Valley is a desert valley known for its extreme climate and geological features and covers an area of over 7,700 sq. km. Furnace Creek in Death Valley holds the current record for Earth’s hottest recorded air temperature at 56.7 °C. Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America at 282 ft below sea level.

The landscapes are simply stunning, and along with renowned areas such as Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View, and Racetrack Playa, there are the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. The dunes are one of the most significant draws to Death Valley, covering over 36 sq. km and rising to 100 ft in height. It’s critical to get there at the right time of day, preferably as the sun rises, because the temperature is cool, and as the sun rises, it increases quickly. But you also have the opportunity to witness the dunes with dramatic shadows passing over them with a golden hue from the morning light.

Examples of Minimalism in Travel Photography

Photo 1 - Black and White Sand Dunes

This photo was one of the last before leaving and was captured from my vantage point at the peak of a neighbouring dune. It does not include a subject to give you a sense of scale. The idea of immensity is not the point. The intention of this photo is one of simplicity in nature: a gradually ascending dune with the mountains in the background. As the two intersect, the light intensifies as the sun is positioned to the right of the frame.

I have numerous photos of the dunes in colour, but I chose to process this photo in black and white. I heard someone say once that if colour doesn’t add to the photo, you should consider removing it. The decision to go black and white with this one was easy. The contrast of the dark foreground and light background with simple patterns worked well.

Photo 2 - Lone Person Unknown

Early morning at the dunes is a photographer’s dream, and if you make the trek out to Death Valley, the dunes are a must. You will be up early and in an optimal spot as the sun makes its first appearance. It’s a sight to behold. I captured this photo a few minutes earlier than the first example.

There are numerous aspects of this photo that I like. First, the most obvious is the lone, unidentified person in the frame. I always find silhouettes of people interesting as it’s impossible to identify them, and here, I will never be able to. The mystery of such intrigues me—secondly, the matching directionality of the dune and mountain. The lower half of the dunes just above the dark foreground starts high on the left and proceeds lower in the frame on the right. It almost perfectly matches the pattern of the mountains in the background.

Next, the low light produced warm hues in the sand and dramatic shadows on the dunes, which I believe assisted with the overall strength of the photo.

Finally, although this is a natural landscape, the photo has tiny traces of human interaction: the footprints far to the right of the frame and the footprints near the silhouetted figure. It’s like a journey we witnessed. I have no idea if the tracks on the right belong to the person on the left, but we can interpret that how we want.

Photo 3 - Sand Dune Patterns

This final photo is simple in composition, as the patterns take up the entire frame. This photo isn’t about minimalism in vastness; it’s about appreciation for a continuous natural pattern of the wind blowing over the dunes. I consider this photo an example of beauty in simplicity. It’s a subject that takes the entire frame yet still has a singular subject. The patterns are similar, although slightly different, as you continue from left to right, with the subtle differences in nature’s patterns. From top to bottom, the texture of the pattern is more pronounced as we get further down the dune and light aids in showing that depth with the deeper shadows it produces.

The Beauty of Less

In travel photography, minimalism is an approach that accentuates simplicity, clean composition, and the strategic use of negative space to create impactful images. By simplifying the composition, you can direct the viewer’s attention to what truly matters in the image. Simplifying a composition could mean focusing on a subject with ample negative space, capturing uncluttered landscapes with lone subjects, or highlighting interesting details with strong lines, shapes, and patterns.

In summary, minimalism in travel photography is about creating a scene with only essential elements. It is a powerful approach to travel photography that can produce aesthetically pleasing images that are also thought-provoking and timeless.