Simplicity in landscape photography is not as easy as it sounds. The natural world is filled with complexity, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the visual elements. However, simplifying a scene can help create more powerful, evocative images, making it easier for viewers to connect with your work.
Coming to you from Alister Benn, this thoughtful video offers insights into the process of simplifying landscape photography. Benn explains how he tackles ordinary scenes and turns them into more compelling compositions using a few simple techniques. One of his first steps is to change the aspect ratio of the image. By switching from the standard 4:3 ratio to a panoramic 16:9, he immediately removes unnecessary content and draws the viewer’s attention to the most important parts of the scene. This simple shift can make a landscape feel more expansive and dynamic.
Another effective technique Benn uses is converting images to black and white. When the colors in a scene aren’t contributing to the mood, switching to monochrome can help emphasize texture, shape, and contrast. In the video, he shows how black and white previews allow him to make quick decisions in the field. By stripping away color, the scene becomes less busy, allowing the composition to stand out more clearly.
As the video progresses, Benn zooms in on the scene, focusing on smaller details to create more intimate images. He highlights how zooming in can remove the distractions of the larger landscape, allowing you to concentrate on the specific interactions between elements, such as the relationship between rocks and water. This zoomed-in approach offers a more personal connection to the landscape, making the images feel like a reflection of the photographer rather than just a documentation of the environment. That's just the start, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Benn.
