Simplicity in composition is one of those deceptively hard skills that can transform your images. The instinct to include everything in front of you is strong, especially when surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Yet too much detail can scatter the viewer’s attention and weaken the impact. Learning to remove what isn’t essential makes the difference between a busy snapshot and a clear, compelling photograph.
Coming to you from Adam Gibbs, this thoughtful video explores reduction as a guiding principle for composition. Gibbs uses the Fairy Lake tree on Vancouver Island as an example of how isolation can do much of the work for you. Because it stands alone on the water, free from background clutter, nearly any shot of it feels clean and intentional. But he points out that the challenge lies in making your version stand out from the thousands already taken. That’s where timing, weather, and light become the tools for originality. He also explains how small technical choices, like using ND filters to smooth water, remove subtle distractions that can undermine an otherwise simple frame.
Gibbs also dismantles the idea that simple means bland or minimalist. A pared-down scene can still have depth and mood if every element serves a purpose. He shares two images of a similar subject to illustrate the power of refining. In the first, stray branches and a small island clutter the message. In the second, he’s stripped the scene to its essentials, producing a cleaner, more effective photograph. His point is that simplifying isn’t about taking the easy route; it’s about making deliberate choices to support the story you want the image to tell.
Later, he tackles one of the most difficult environments for clean composition: woodland scenes. Shooting with Alister Ben on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Gibbs was confronted with a chaotic forest and dappled sunlight. Instead of fighting the complexity, he shifted his focus from the trees to the light itself, arranging patches of brightness into a balanced flow. This idea of letting the light, not the objects, be the subject underscores his approach to simplifying. He also shares how previsualizing, adjusting aspect ratios, and working in series rather than single images can help you reduce distractions while still telling a broader story. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Gibbs.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan II - Discovering Hidden Gems with Elia Locardi!”
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