Less Is More

In photography and in life - as I get older - or mature as they say in the wine industry, I've come to the realisation that simplicity is the ultimate sophistcation.

An early morning predawn image captured on ski tour last winter (simple composition, one main subject).

I was going to write this weeks newsletter about something less serious.

Something easy to grasp.

But, alas, I got sidetracked into contemplating simpler things (see what I did there?)

So, here we are, pondering how undercomplicating is superior to overcomplicating.

Impact, simply put.

In photography, when I try and include too much in the frame, it tends to confuse not only me but the viewer as well.

What am I suppose to be looking at?

What is the story here?

The feeling being conveyed?

No impact.

Now let’s take a step back.

Focus, really focus, on what you’re trying to say.

Or, alternatively, don’t focus at all and trust your instinct.

Remove the distraction and distill things down to only that what matters.

That which has meaning and brings something to the table.

Both in framing a photograph and in life.

Impact.

Similarly, in life, when I try to do too many things, own too many things, it gets messy really fast.

Guilty?

As charged.

Trying to get better at it, though.

In that sense, photography is both my guide (as you can see in the simple, but impactful, frames in this newsletter) and achilles heal (GAS / Gear Acquisition Syndrome anyone?).

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”

- Leonardo da Vinci

I guess all I want to convey for this week’s addition if Alpine Dispatches is this: less is more.

In life.

In making images.

The amount of skis / bicycles you own (just kidding, not kidding).

Try it and let me know how you get on.

A blade of alpine grass sticking out from the snow mid winter (captured on ski tour, next to the skin track).

That’s it for this week!

Any interesting stories or thoughts to add?

Simply hit reply and let me know / comment below (so we can all benefit).

Have a great week!

—

Until next time ✌🏽.

Cornelius

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