Minimalism
The Art of Simplicity
Welcome to this week's edition of Behind the Picture Magazine!
In our latest photo assignment, we challenged photographers to embrace minimalism within their niche.
But what exactly is minimalism?
It's a style or technique characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity, whether in music, literature, design, or photography.
Now, get ready to explore some stunning minimalist photos from this week's Photo of the Week winners.
Let's dive in!
Assignment Brief
CARTY gives a tight brief at the end of his photo review shows which tells us shooters what we have to shoot exactly for the following weeks review.
Here is this assignment exactly how he shares it.
“This weeks Assignment: Minimalism”
Portrait shooters can emphasize a subject with a clean background.
Places shooters can capture a minimalist architectural space.
Things shooters can isolate a product with little to no distractions.
THIS IS A VERTICAL ASSIGNMENT.
4000px wide x 100dpi.
Think magazine cover.
Amund Thompson
Can you walk us through the concept behind your winning image? What story or message were you hoping to convey?
For this image, I aimed to capture a sense of raw honesty and vulnerability.
The simplicity of the composition, with a clean background and natural lighting, draws all attention to the subject's face and expression.
I wanted the viewer to feel an intimate connection with the subject, allowing her unguarded emotions to take center stage.
By keeping the lighting soft yet direct, it accentuates her features without harsh shadows, creating a natural and authentic look.
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that sparked the idea for this image?
I drew inspiration from classic portrait photographers who emphasize simplicity, light, and emotional honesty.
I wanted to create a moment where the subject could just be, without needing to perform or pose excessively.
This image was born from a space of quiet observation—allowing the subject’s natural energy to come forward, and finding beauty in that vulnerability.
That was the spark for this shot: a pursuit of something real, where the viewer can almost feel the subject’s inner world, a moment of introspection.
How did you ensure the simplicity in your image did not take away from its emotional or aesthetic impact?
To maintain emotional and aesthetic impact in the simplicity of the image, I focused on clean composition, natural lighting, and genuine expression.
By eliminating distractions, the subject’s face and emotion take center stage, allowing viewers to connect directly.
The minimalism enhances the portrait’s emotional depth without overpowering its visual appeal.
Did you have any initial ideas that didn’t work out? How did you pivot to arrive at the final shot?
Yes, I initially considered using a more dynamic background or dramatic lighting, but it felt distracting and took away from the subject’s emotional expression.
I pivoted by simplifying the setup, focusing on clean lighting and minimalism to highlight the subject's natural features and emotion, which led to the final shot.
Was there a particular moment during the shoot when you felt everything clicked? Can you describe how that felt?
There was a moment when the subject’s expression softened and her gaze became more introspective—it felt like the perfect blend of emotion and simplicity.
In that instant, everything aligned, and I knew we had captured something authentic.
It felt like a quiet but powerful connection had been made through the lens.
In what ways has this experience encouraged or validated your approach to minimalism?
This experience reinforced my belief that minimalism can create powerful, emotionally resonant images.
It validated that stripping away distractions allows the subject’s natural expression and the emotional connection to take center stage, which leads to more impactful portraits.
It’s encouraged me to lean further into simplicity as a tool for authentic storytelling.
How has being part of the Carty community helped shape your creative process, especially in assignments like this?
Being part of the Carty Method has given me valuable insights into refining my creative vision, especially when it comes to simplifying my work.
The community’s focus on intentionality and creating authentic connections has strengthened my approach to minimalism, encouraging me to trust in the power of subtle emotion and clean composition in assignments like this.
What specific aspects of the community bring value to your growth as a photographer?
The Carty community provides invaluable feedback, collaboration opportunities, and a space to share ideas with like-minded photographers.
The emphasis on refining technique, while staying true to personal style, has helped me grow creatively and gain confidence in my unique approach.
It’s a supportive environment that fosters both artistic and professional development.
What advice would you give to photographers who are considering joining the Carty community?
I’d advise photographers to join with an open mind and a willingness to grow.
The Carty community provides invaluable guidance, but it’s most beneficial when you’re ready to step outside your comfort zone and embrace constructive feedback.
It’s an investment in both your craft and your confidence as a photographer.
How has working on assignments like this one improved your skills, and what would you say to those who are hesitant to explore minimalism in their work?
Working on assignments like this has sharpened my ability to focus on essential elements—emotion, light, and expression—while improving my technical precision.
For those hesitant about minimalism, I’d say it’s a powerful way to strip away distractions and highlight what truly matters in a portrait.
Embracing simplicity can lead to more impactful, authentic images.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @amundphoto
Facebook: facebook.com/amundphoto
Substack: amundphoto.substack.com
Liza Heider
Can you walk us through the concept behind your winning image? What story or message were you hoping to convey?
Lately I’ve been studying a few photographers who use direct sunlight on portraits, so I decided to apply mid afternoon sunlight for this assignment.
I knew I wanted to use a black or white background.
The message I was hoping to convey is elegance, style, simplicity and contrast.
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that sparked the idea for this image?
I’ve been in contact with my model Kaylynn for a few months and we’ve been talking about collaborating a test shoot.
I wasn’t sure how I wanted to photograph Kaylynn but I envisioned how beautifully her dark skin would pop against a white wall.
So, I started scouting locations for white walls in my neighborhood, studied the light and decided on a location near my studio.
The night prior to our shoot, Kaylynn emailed me suggesting that since the assignment was minimalism, asked me if it would be okay she wear her natural 4C Afro.
I replied how much I loved this idea and started to think how I could make her hair the focal point of the assignment.
How did you ensure the simplicity in your image did not take away from its emotional or aesthetic impact?
A strapless tube top showing Kaylynn’s bare arms and shoulders, and minimal make up made for a simplistic and clean look.
Did you have any initial ideas that didn’t work out? How did you pivot to arrive at the final shot?
My first intention was to wrap a large bolt of white satin fabric around Kaylynn as I thought white material on a white backdrop would create a dramatic effect.
Unfortunately, the fabric idea didn’t work out.
The fabric felt cumbersome and too difficult to style just right. You could tell Kaylynn was uncomfortable, so I had to pivot to another direction.
I asked Kaylynn to put on her white tube top and that I needed to start over.
The plain white tube top looked and felt more natural and Kaylynn could move more freely.
I then had Kaylynn sit on an apple box and began to pose her.
In addition to the white satin not working out, my next challenge was directing Kaylynn to look into my lens in bright sunlight.
The bright sun was too harsh on Kaylynn’s eyes causing her to squint, so I started to get a little unsure of how I was going to make this shoot work.
I told Kaylynn I need a minute to rethink her posing.
I decided to pivot by posing Kaylynn’s profile to camera with her eyes closed and head arched back.
This pose and feel was at last starting to feel good, so I just kept shooting Kaylynn, asking her to keep leaning back feeling the sunlight on her face.
Was there a particular moment during the shoot when you felt everything clicked? Can you describe how that felt?
Yes. I noticed Kaylynn would take her hair pick out and style her hair between posing.
I asked her if she’d be okay in leaving the pick in her hair as a prop, and she loved the idea.
Once I saw how the pick looked, I felt like I finally hit something adding a special component to the image.
We’d move the pick around until we got it in a good place.
The hair pick in my opinion, really made the shot, adding something stylish as well as an emphasis on Kaylynn’s Afro.
The way Kaylynn slightly arched her body and how she placed her arms to her sides, the image was starting to come together with a relaxed style.
There is just a special feeling when you hit something on a shoot and you know it’s working and you shoot as many frames as possible; and as us photographers know, it’s an amazing feeling when it all comes together.
In what ways has this experience encouraged or validated your approach to minimalism?
I’ve always enjoyed photographing portraits in a minimalist style.
This assignment sung to me right away.
There is so much you can do with a “less is more” approach.
How has being part of the Carty community helped shape your creative process, especially in assignments like this?
Being part of the Carty community has inspired me to shoot and push myself creatively.
In particular, because I’m surrounded by such positive and creative spirits in the group who encourage me to keep putting myself out there.
The weekly assignments and briefs Carty provides is good practice as you’re asked to deliver work fitting very specific perimeters.
This means you have to really think the assignment through making sure you don’t “mail it in” as Carty says.
Because if you “mail it in,” you’re gonna hear about it.
What specific aspects of the community bring value to your growth as a photographer?
Structure, for the most part.
Structure, daily creative and healthy habits, mindfulness and sticking with the group have helped me re-wire my brain creatively and how I organize my day and my business.
What advice would you give to photographers who are considering joining the Carty community?
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional and you’re struggling (or not), getting involved with the Carty community is probably for you!
In particular because there is every kind of photographer you can think of in this group.
As for me, I had a full time photography career for over 15 years and even though I was pretty successful, it wasn’t easy, as I worked entirely by myself.
This caused burnout and I hadn’t picked up my camera in nearly 7 years.
I decided to revisit my photography in 2024 at 53, but the idea of starting over all by myself seemed daunting. I realized I needed some help.
I started to research various photography groups, but nothing really sung to me.
Stumbling upon Steve Carty was a happy accident and just this year has been life changing as to how my work has changed and where I’m headed in coming months and years.
My advice for beginner photographers, is find some type of group to encourage you and provide constructive feedback.
How has working on assignments like this one improved your skills, and what would you say to those who are hesitant to explore minimalism in their work?
I haven’t photographed a portrait in a minimalist style in quite some time, so this assignment was a just a great reminder how much I love to execute this style of work.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: Liza Heider Photography
Website: Lizaheider.com
Samuel Saling
Can you walk us through the concept behind your winning image? What story or message were you hoping to convey?
Very limited setup during a vacation in Greece (with 2 small kids, so not a real vacation).
My camera was ready the whole time waiting to find the right place, time, light and I got lucky during a visit in our friends house - I found the best spot on one of the two terraces of the apartment.
We shot 2 outfits and the second one we tried better poses.
This one worked best (in my opinion, out of approx 50 pics from two 5-min. sessions).
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that sparked the idea for this image?
Yes, I saw her trying poses and I actually gave advice to her in the second session.
Worked perfectly.
Thanks model girl for listening!
How did you ensure the simplicity in your image did not take away from its emotional or aesthetic impact?
I made sure the background would obliterate, while also making sure there is no direct light.
Did you have any initial ideas that didn’t work out? How did you pivot to arrive at the final shot?
Yes, I noticed the arms were cut not appropriately and that sometimes the drapes blocking light would let direct sunlight somewhere.
Also, it was windy, so the hair wasn’t very well behaving.
Was there a particular moment during the shoot when you felt everything clicked? Can you describe how that felt?
Yes, when I guided the pose, it suddenly worked.
Plus the second outfit shoot was not supposed to happen and my model agreed to go again.
In what ways has this experience encouraged or validated your approach to minimalism?
I love how the subject pops in minimalistic background, I will work more on this type of portrait.
How has being part of the Carty community helped shape your creative process, especially in assignments like this?
I know that if I make a picture inside the timeframe, it will be critiqued. That is top value for me.
What specific aspects of the community bring value to your growth as a photographer?
Pro accelerator work makes me think a lot in the photographer mindset, it is great not to scream in the dark.
What advice would you give to photographers who are considering joining the Carty community?
Join the community, it will definitely accelerate your growth.
Plus the community is amazing added value, where ideas/techniques are shared, and tough questions answered.
How has working on assignments like this one improved your skills, and what would you say to those who are hesitant to explore minimalism in their work?
It makes my mind compute more considering lighting, posing, execution.
The more you try, the better you get.
Minimalism makes you concentrate on the subject only, which is important for learning.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: Samuel Saling
Steve Bourdeau
Can you walk us through the concept behind your winning image? What story or message were you hoping to convey?
Life can be very trying at times.
It is very important to be aware of, and strengthen the connection between your mind, body and soul.
And I wanted to show that connection.
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that sparked the idea for this image?
No particularly.
The idea kind of just formulated as the photo session progressed and our minds collaborated.
I loved the initial look and refined it from there.
How did you ensure the simplicity in your image did not take away from its emotional or aesthetic impact?
I actually found that the simplicity allowed the emotion to come through more clearly.
It’s as if he was praying or meditating, and the black and white edit combined with the pure white background really brings out the spiritual aspect.
Did you have any initial ideas that didn’t work out? How did you pivot to arrive at the final shot?
Initially, I was trying for a simple portrait with the white background, but without the 3rd light to properly light the subject, I had to resort to the partial silhouette look.
I think it paid off.
Was there a particular moment during the shoot when you felt everything clicked? Can you describe how that felt?
The very first frame I took after the idea came up we had a “YES” moment.
I saw that it was close to the final image in my head and I got really excited.
It was kind of like going for a run while listening to music and your favorite song comes on.
It gives you a bit more bounce in your step and you have a bit more fun.
In what ways has this experience encouraged or validated your approach to minimalism?
To have Carty say that if he told someone that he had made the photo, people would believe him, it was amazing to hear and is incredibly validating.
Of course, I know there are miles of learning ahead of me and there are so many different ways to utilize minimalism, and I look forward to incorporating it more in future work.
How has being part of the Carty community helped shape your creative process, especially in assignments like this?
Just having assignments like this alone pushes me to be more creative on the spot and forces me to actively flex those muscles instead of just waiting for inspiration to strike.
The fact that Carty designs these assignment briefs much like one you’d receive from a magazine editor is great practice for real world situations.
That way you’re not so flustered for the real deal.
What specific aspects of the community bring value to your growth as a photographer?
There is absolutely NO WAY I’d be where I am with my photography if it wasn’t for The Carty Method Community.
I’d say the biggest shift that has happened with me is my mindset shift. I’m no longer just taking photos that I think are pretty or an Instagram “banger.”
I now find myself making photos that can make an impact on the viewer while simultaneously being used to market something or someone.
What advice would you give to photographers who are considering joining the Carty community?
This is the best thing I’ve done so far for my photography journey.
Getting real, no BS photo critiques instead of just having friends and family telling me how great my images are has really allowed me to take a real close look at my technical skills and artistic vision and elevate it to the point where I know I will be undeniable.
How has working on assignments like this one improved your skills, and what would you say to those who are hesitant to explore minimalism in their work?
Minimalism can be hard to wrap your head around in some situations.
But simplicity makes images far easier to read than something that’s super busy and chaotic.
This assignment really reminded me that sometimes having too much going on in the frame can be very distracting. Simple scene + simple lighting + simple message = successful minimalistic photo.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: Steven Bourdeau
Website: Steven Bourdeau
Mats Karlsson
Can you walk us through the concept behind your winning image? What story or message were you hoping to convey?
Minimalism was the assignment, so I went for a simple image with no distractions.
Tried some different ideas but felt that this captured my interest when going through my photos.
I used shallow depth of field to create a more minimalistic look to the picture.
Also, black and white added simplicity to the image.
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that sparked the idea for this image?
I wanted to try a closer picture and to exclude more from the photo.
I have probably seen this kind of picture many times, but I can’t say there was a specific moment.
Just the result of trying different ideas.
How did you ensure the simplicity in your image did not take away from its emotional or aesthetic impact?
As it is a closeup portrait, there are details enough in the picture to make it say something, even without any extras on the side.
I think that is the beauty with minimalism.
To really focus on one thing and get everything else out of the way.
Did you have any initial ideas that didn’t work out? How did you pivot to arrive at the final shot?
Yes, I saw some great ideas on Behance that I really wanted to try, but I didn’t find the right location to do it in time.
So this image was a result of starting over, trying something completely different.
I still want to try the original ideas sometime.
Was there a particular moment during the shoot when you felt everything clicked? Can you describe how that felt?
For this photo it was more of a process beginning with shooting a lot of frames and then choose your favorites down to one single frame.
So there was not really that feeling of “I got it” this time. I can relate to the feeling when you kind of feel that this is going to be good.
“I have a few great frames in my camera”-feeling.
It feels great when that happens.
But more often for me, the picture kind of selects itself from the others by viewing them over and over again until one is chosen.
In what ways has this experience encouraged or validated your approach to minimalism?
I am a pretty traditional photographer and minimalism is definitely something I will continue to explore and look into more.
I feel eager to search for great photographers within this niche.
I love the clean, architectural feeling of a minimalism photography.
It’s great when you realize these things while working on an assignment.
How has being part of the Carty community helped shape your creative process, especially in assignments like this?
For me, it has changed everything.
I have and is continuously learning from this community.
The assignments pushes me to execute the assignment on time.
Listening to the submission reviews has taught me so much.
Not only my own submissions, but the discussion on all submitting members photos.
It’s great that everybody submitting is contributing to this community’s progress in this craft.
What specific aspects of the community bring value to your growth as a photographer?
The assignment reviews is a very direct feedback on the photography side of things.
You learn how to create a product that brings value to professional clients.
For creating business, I don’t know where to start. Just by watching youtube videos, there is so much valuable information.
So those are my go to places to start with.
What advice would you give to photographers who are considering joining the Carty community?
I recommend everybody interested in photography to join the community.
There are so much great content.
Start by watching youtube content and see if the vibe resonates with you.
I guess it’s not for everyone, but if it clicks, I don’t have to sell it.
It sells itself.
How has working on assignments like this one improved your skills, and what would you say to those who are hesitant to explore minimalism in their work?
Personally, the assignments keep pushing me forward.
Every week, there is a new assignment that I learn from.
By doing all these assignments, my view on photography has made me much more aware of details, lights, formats and a lot more.
Minimalism to me are those really clean images that stand out.
It’s like doing the basic things right, before adding all the extra.
I think it’s a great place to start. But it’s hard. Harder than I thought it would be.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @matskarlssonphotography
Substack: @matskarlssonphotography
Website: matskarlssonphotography
Joe Franklin
Can you walk us through the concept behind your winning image? What story or message were you hoping to convey?
Did some research into minimalism and settled on minimalist interior design as scouting for a location for exteriors would take too long.
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that sparked the idea for this image?
No, just had a concept and shot different angles compositions and various styles of lighting.
How did you ensure the simplicity in your image did not take away from its emotional or aesthetic impact?
Removed all staging and added items and changed them out for different looks. Kept lighting simple.
Did you have any initial ideas that didn’t work out? How did you pivot to arrive at the final shot?
Tried hard light at first then soft, flash didn’t look great. Natural light looked best, this shot used no modifiers.
Was there a particular moment during the shoot when you felt everything clicked? Can you describe how that felt?
No, was looking for a more defined shadow look but the space didn’t look right with it. Shot for a couple hours and left hoping I had something better than I thought.
In what ways has this experience encouraged or validated your approach to minimalism?
It made me take every thing out and slowly add. Also made me slow down.
How has being part of the Carty community helped shape your creative process, especially in assignments like this?
The assignments help build range within my niche.
And I take them as a challenge to use them to build a specific portfolio piece(s) so that it adds to the value of this course.
What specific aspects of the community bring value to your growth as a photographer?
The course work, I hadn’t thought of breaking things down this way.
It has allowed me to specifically point to what I want to aspire to and go that way rather than flop about and hope.
What advice would you give to photographers who are considering joining the Carty community?
Do not rely on someone else to guide you or get you moving.
Do the course work, drive yourself and if someone helps, that’s just gravy.
How has working on assignments like this one improved your skills, and what would you say to those who are hesitant to explore minimalism in their work?
It gives you something that you probably wouldn’t do, and attaches a discardable standard and timeline.
This coupled with your regular work and the course work act like a creative workout to stretch and strengthen your abilities.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: Joe Franklin Photography
Website: Joe Franklin Photography
Youtube: Joe Franklin Photography
Juan Herrera
Can you walk us through the concept behind your winning image? What story or message were you hoping to convey?
I had an actor as my subject.
We were shooting three general emotions: happy, calm-composed, and angry-frustration to have variety.
In this shot, we were about a dozen frames in with different angles.
This was one of the calm-composed shots.
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that sparked the idea for this image?
I normally don’t have or shoot profile angle portraits, so I was inspired by a series of Renaissance portrait paintings I saw at a museum during a recent visit.
How did you ensure the simplicity in your image did not take away from its emotional or aesthetic impact?
By converting into a monochrome black n white I think it helped keep the aesthetic impact.
The original the back backdrop was red in the moment of editing I believed that the color would be competing attend to much.
Did you have any initial ideas that didn’t work out? How did you pivot to arrive at the final shot?
I had a different light set up but I came back to keeping simple once, I pre visualize that it will be a black n white photographs.
Was there a particular moment during the shoot when you felt everything clicked? Can you describe how that felt?
Yes, it was during the subject, and I clicked working together (vibing)
In what ways has this experience encouraged or validated your approach to minimalism?
This photoshoot validated my minimalist approach by demonstrating how simplicity can create striking and impactful images.
The clean lighting and subject and uncluttered backgrounds allowed the subjects to truly stand out, proving that less can indeed be more.
How has being part of the Carty community helped shape your creative process, especially in assignments like this?
The shared insights and feedback from fellow members have pushed me to explore new techniques and perspectives.
This support network has been invaluable in assignments like this, encouraging me to take creative risks and refine my minimalist approach.
What specific aspects of the community bring value to your growth as a photographer?
Similar to the answer previous the constant feedback, support and encouragement if you seek it out.
What advice would you give to photographers who are considering joining the Carty community?
I would advise photographers considering joining the Carty community to embrace the opportunity for growth and collaboration.
The shared insights and feedback from fellow members can significantly enhance your creative process and push you to explore new techniques.
It’s a supportive environment that encourages taking creative risks and refining your unique style.
How has working on assignments like this one improved your skills, and what would you say to those who are hesitant to explore minimalism in their work?
Working on assignments like this has sharpened my skills by teaching me the power of simplicity.
To those hesitant about minimalism, I’d say give it a try—simplicity can lead to striking and powerful results.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: Juan Herrera Photography
Best In Show
Travis Silverman
Can you walk us through the concept behind your winning image? What story or message were you hoping to convey?
This photo shoot was part of my Finding Handsome photo project - follow me on Substack or Instagram for more on this!
One of the concepts is to photograph the subjects at their most “handsome” - in other words when their true selves can shine through.
Everyone in Finding Handsome was assumed female at birth (AFAB) and have always felt masculine.
This photograph is meant to convey both the journey to and arrival at feeling “handsome”.
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that sparked the idea for this image?
Yes there was!
When I asked Cecilia if there was an object or thing that represented feeling handsome or their handsome journey, she said her cat who is 18 years old and has been her companion through a big chunk of this journey with her.
She also said that she loved her chest - her top surgery made her feel more handsome - and her tattoos (though admitted that sometimes people assumed that she was tough and/or mean because of the way she looks).
The topless photo with the cat felt like a nod to those photos of muscular topless men holding babies or puppies - but a “queering” of them.
Tender and butch. Tenderbutch.
How did you ensure the simplicity in your image did not take away from its emotional or aesthetic impact?
I feel like simplicity in my photographs allows for the emotional and aesthetic impact to shine through.
I love peeling everything away except for light and the subject and working until something gets revealed.
Did you have any initial ideas that didn’t work out? How did you pivot to arrive at the final shot?
Initially the shots were of Cecilia on her own wearing a white tank top.
It’s not so much that they didn’t work out, but I don’t know if they quite conveyed the dichotomy of tenderbutch quite as well as the topless cat photo did.
Was there a particular moment during the shoot when you felt everything clicked? Can you describe how that felt?
I was skeptical at first about the idea of the cat being in the photos to be perfectly honest.
I’m not a cat person, in fact I’m allergic and I had to scramble to find an allergy pill to take before the shoot.
I think once Cecilia took her shirt off and held her cat things started to click.
We could both tell and laughed about the idea of the cisgender muscle man with babies or puppies and how this was a “fuckery” of that concept.
Like this “Calendar full of Hot Firefighters Holding Puppies”.
In what ways has this experience encouraged or validated your approach to minimalism?
I’ve been working towards minimalism in my photography and also in my life for some time now.
The past year and a half has been a refining and editing and weeding out of things I don’t need - physical things like clutter in my home, emotional baggage on a personal level, and of course extra stuff in my photos.
I’ve been paring down to really simplifying my photos to a white or gray background, simple lighting and focussing on the connection between photographer and subject.
This has been extremely validating because it tells me that I’m doing something that’s working!
How has being part of the Carty community helped shape your creative process, especially in assignments like this?
It’s great to be given assignments to push your brain and creativity as a photographer to help inform your practice, try new things and then test them among your peers.
The feedback is especially important. It’s really hard to be an artist in a vacuum.
I’m pretty sure someone important once said that and I’ve always believed it to be true.
What specific aspects of the community bring value to your growth as a photographer?
I’d say these assignments are hugely important, but also connecting with peers and group mentors to help refine your ideas and again to continue weeding out what not to do, so we can focus on what we do best!
What advice would you give to photographers who are considering joining the Carty community?
Just be ready to dive in.
Say yes to growth. Always.
How has working on assignments like this one improved your skills, and what would you say to those who are hesitant to explore minimalism in their work?
As I said, I love minimalism in photography. I love contrast.
Minimalism helps highlight what’s truly important - in your life, your home, or your work.
Try it!
It’s actually really liberating.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @Travis Silverman Photography
Instagram: @Findinghandsome
Substack: Travis Silverman
Website: Silverman Photo
Ana K
Can you walk us through the concept behind your winning image? What story or message were you hoping to convey?
Crafting a truly minimalistic image is a challenge.
For this project, I chose a close-up portrait, intentionally minimizing distractions and focusing on a limited color and tonal palette.
The goal was to create something visually simple yet deeply captivating.
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that sparked the idea for this image?
The inspiration came from the unique features of my model.
She has striking red hair and delicate, light-colored eyelashes, which really stood out.
I knew I wanted to highlight these features, making them the centerpiece of the portrait.
How did you ensure the simplicity in your image did not take away from its emotional or aesthetic impact?
Simplicity, in my view, can often be more complex than something elaborate.
I draw a lot of inspiration from Japanese aesthetics, where beauty lies in balance and restraint.
The key is arranging the elements in such a way that there's nothing to add or take away—everything feels harmonious, leaving no room for questions.
Did you have any initial ideas that didn’t work out? How did you pivot to arrive at the final shot?
Initially, I envisioned a high-key image with more muted tones.
However, I shifted my approach by incorporating an orange sweater and using orange gels in the background.
This added warmth and contrast, which brought the image to life in a new way.
Was there a particular moment during the shoot when you felt everything clicked? Can you describe how that felt?
After a few moments, my model began to relax, and suddenly everything came together.
I captured a series of shots that perfectly aligned with my vision.
It’s an amazing feeling to watch an idea evolve and come to life.
In what ways has this experience encouraged or validated your approach to minimalism?
This experience has solidified my love for minimalistic photography.
Simplicity can be incredibly powerful, and I’m excited to explore more minimalistic portraits in future projects.
How has being part of the Carty community helped shape your creative process, especially in assignments like this?
The Carty community is a constant source of inspiration.
I love seeing the diversity of niches and how other photographers interpret the assignments, which always sparks new ideas for me.
What specific aspects of the community bring value to your growth as a photographer?
The shared experiences within the Carty community—both wins and struggles—remind me that I’m not alone in my journey.
It’s incredibly reassuring to have that kind of support.
What advice would you give to photographers who are considering joining the Carty community?
Carty’s community offers a wealth of knowledge, challenges, and encouragement for photographers at all levels.
If you're serious about honing your skills and pushing your creative boundaries, it’s the perfect place to grow.
How has working on assignments like this one improved your skills, and what would you say to those who are hesitant to explore minimalism in their work?
This assignment was one of my favorites.
Minimalism is, in many ways, the highest form of art—stripping away the unnecessary to reveal true beauty.
I would encourage anyone hesitant to explore it to give it a try; it forces you to focus on the essence of the subject.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @AKphotography.2020
Website: AnaK.Photography
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Carty is a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
👉🏾 Mindset shifts and Immersive Pro Education on YouTube 👈🏾
Learn more about him and see his work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
Join his photographers community 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com/community
Work with Him 👉🏾 theCartyMethod.com
The Carty Method Instagram @TheCartyMethod
Congratulations to all my amazing fellow photographers! Good work. xo