Top 10 WeeklyFstops: Simplicity

When it comes to composing a photograph, there is a natural tendency to pay attention to the subject ignoring the distractions. This is just a matter of liking your own art and viewing it in an idealistic way. Sometimes until you show your photos to an audience, the distractions are invisible to you. This is where simplicity can help. 

One thing I notice and don't like about my older photographs are all the distractions I ignored. This could be tree branches creeping into the edge of a sunset shot, an unwanted subject detracting from the desired focal point, or even just too many colors in the photo. Simplify by removing anything that doesn't add to the photograph. What you will end up with is a universally digestible photograph that will stand out from the crowd.

Here is this week's top 10 list of shots submitted by Fstoppers readers:

#10

Sergi

#9

Tomáš Kříž

#8

Secret Shire

#7

Marley

#6

Ty Dammon

#5

Elliott Olinger

#4

Ramon Portelli

#3

jalexaphotography

#2

Rosalie Berger

#1

Jacob Bentzinger

I love the way the quote works so well with the portrait of the farmer. Way to fill the frame and capture a classic shot demonstrating simplicity Jacob! Congratulations to everyone featured and thanks again for participating.

What is This Week's Theme?

For this week's prompt, let's go with:

"Monochrome"

Defined as a photograph or picture developed or executed in black and white or in varying tones of only one color.

I love black and white photography. There is just a certain mood and feeling that can only be achieved by dropping all the color. Since black and white photography is where the whole art form began, it often has a very classic look. I should point out though that an image can be "monochrome" without being black and white at all. Let's see if anyone submits a shot proving this for us.

The hashtag to use is #weeklyFstop. If you are tagging an old shot that is fine, but please try and keep it to one shot picked for the theme per week.

Here are the previous week's results for anyone who may have missed:

1. Leading Lines
2. Bold
3. Color
4. Yours

There are a number of people playing every week now which is great! If some of you are so inclined, try and recruit some peers. The more people playing the better our lists will be!

Remember, there is no guarantee posting a photo will result in it being featured. If we get going and you fall short, keep shooting and try and learn from the photos that are selected. We can all learn to like our work a little less sometimes in order to grow. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas feel free to contribute in the comments.

Are you all aware of the ongoing Fstoppers Photographer of the Month contest leading up to the Fstoppers Community Photographer of the Year? Alex Cooke covers how to be selected at the bottom of the above post.

Speaking of the Fstoppers community, are you part of it? Did you know you can have your own portfolio here with chances to be featured on the homepage as Photo of the Day? If not be sure to check it out. If you already comment then you have an account. If not, use the sign-up button and upload some work! Besides uploading your own work and having a portfolio on Fstoppers, making an account allows you to follow your favorite writers and artists so you will be notified every time they publish new photos or articles.