Are you a minimalist or a maximalist when it comes to photography? Do you crave space or enjoy having lots to contemplate? There’s no right or wrong; each brings its own beauty. Bokeh has a lot to do with minimalism in my mind so let’s start with a photo filled with bokeh or basically filled with space: a damselfly over a Wyoming lake.
Looking up from bed one morning at the ceiling fan that’s a life saver in the heat and humidity of Illinois (or the dry, very hot heat of Arizona), I decided it would make a good photo.
There’s more filling this photo but it’s basically still one tomato with a stem.
Does minimal means fewer objects (there’s only a background and the face here) or is it the busy-ness of a shot? This photo gives you the chance to decide.
This final shot from Tlaquepaque, Sedona’s village-like shopping area, has a lot to see but is less busy than the previous photo, also from Tlaquepaque. Which one seems to better fit the term “maximal” and why?
Thanks, Sofia, for a challenge with maximum fun!
This, that and the other thing 
I definitely don’t like ‘busyness’ but it takes all sorts to make a photo, Janet.
True and different people enjoy different things.
Hmm, I’m not a great photographer so I’m probably somewhere in the middle. I must say that first photo certainly captured my attention, and I really like it.
I liked your first 3 photos most. I suppose I am a minimalist too! Although certain places with interesting colours and items can also be beautiful!
I tend to be a minimalist too, but I really enjoyed the shot of the fountain.
I like minimalism more than maximalism so, like you, I’ll be posting more of the former. Nice choices, Janet. Nice capture on that damselfly!
I was quite happy that day to capture not only this one but a number of them together. Usually they’re too fast or too far away. I tend to be minimalistic too.
These are all lovely, Janet.
Thanks very much, Dan. I hope your week’s off to good start.
Thanks Janet. So far so good.
Your damselfly is amazing janet – and the guy on the wall is DEFINITELY maximalism. YIKES!
😁. I know the background is busy but I quite like him.
Nothing better than a flowing fountain in the heat. That last one conjures up all the senses.
Still I love the lines of the tomato stem (and color contrast) and that long curved string of the fan which opens the mind’s door to a story that is spinning around without the distractions of busy colors and patterns. Less can me more!
“can be” …moving fingers moving too fast this morning HAHA
And you never see it until it’s too late!
It can yet sometimes more is good too. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
Lovely collection.
Love the damselfly
Thanks. I was quite happy with that and the rest of the shots of them I took that day. Usually they were either too fast to capture or too far away.
I get it.
Most of the times we are in a hurry due to so many reasons and some times we miss the moment
Thank you my friend
I like them both at different times depending on the subject or scene. I love your damselfly! Catching them in flight can be hard.
Your ceiling fan took me back to an exercise I had when learning photography and how to capture motion. My teacher had the class use a ceiling fan to practice on to learn and understand shutter speed.
The water fountain is lovely. My mind tuned everything else out but that! I love the draping water.
I agree. There’s a time and place for both, although I do tend towards the minimal side.
Nice catch on the dragonfly!
Thanks, Sue. It was a good day for them.
You have some terrific photos. But Janet, your string from the overhead fan is stunning and clever 😀 😀
Thanks, Cee! I like that one a lot myself.
I’m glad you had fun and it shows, great photos. Dragonfly is my favourite 🙂
Thanks and thanks again for hostessing and for the enjoyable theme.
You’re welcome.
Great collection, Janet! I’m a fan of minimalism, myself..love that dragonfly
I know you are, Sue, and I tend to that as well. Glad you enjoyed these.
😊😊😊
Love your take on, Janet! The dragonfly is a great capture. The ceiling fan is pretty creative for mini.
The tile works is maxi!
Thanks, Amy. The tile work interests me for this discussion because it shows how something simple in numbers can be maxi. But then each tile is maxi in and if itself. 😁
I love the closing photo for the maximal feel but then it also had a balanced and harmonious vibe
And so cool
How each photo today actually coordinates with color and elements
Then
You also ease us in – slowly
– from minimal to maximal, which was quite clever
Thanks, Yvette. I really like that closing photo as well and I’m glad you enjoyed the way I presented the photos.
Went from whisper light to fill and vibrant
Love all of these, maximalism too… But the damselfly and the fountain are the winners for me.
Thanks, A-C. I like those two quite a lot myself. 😉
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I enjoyed your take on this one, and that you included Tlaquepaque. The wall was the perfect example. I love that place. It is a photographers dream. Great collection, and nice tomato from your garden I presume.
It’s the best shopping center I’ve ever been to. My big tomatoes didn’t ripen in time but the cherry tomatoes were delicious. I think the heat got the big ones.
Ya… it’s always a crapshoot, if you will, if you don’t stay on top of it…which is impossible most of the time.
Same shopping center as my PPAC picture today, but I think it is a different fountain. Yours doesn’t have the grimy deposits on it that mine has. To answer your question about busyness. I think both pictures are more maximal than minimal. Your first two are perfect for minimal, to my untrained eye. That doesn’t mean I don’t like them because I particularly like the second one!
So many beautiful things in that shopping center! I tend towards minimalism but have quite a few exceptions. 😉
I tend towards maximalism, but love a great close up or minimal picture. I tend toward busy but admire those who take or visualize minimally! 🙂