![\"eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1055\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1055.jpg?resize=1545%2C1024\")
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I believe that photos are best created from subtraction. Just like how a sculptor makes a statue.<\/p>\n
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A sculptor starts with a rough piece of stone. And the sculptor\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s job is to carve away, and subtract until he uncovers the beautiful statue beneath.<\/p>\n
I feel the same is in photography. You start off with messy reality. You need to figure out what to carve away, or what to subtract, to uncover a hidden, beautiful image.<\/p>\n
![\"eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1044\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1044.jpg?resize=1545%2C1024\")
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A list of some potential things to subtract:<\/p>\n
When I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m shooting on the streets, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m always thinking: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What can I remove from the frame?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Rather than thinking about what I can add to the frame.<\/p>\n
![\"eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1066\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1066.jpg?resize=1545%2C1024\")
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Also when it comes to your photography, you want to figure out what you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re trying to say.<\/p>\n
When you see a scene that is interesting to you \u00e2\u20ac\u201d what exactly about the frame do you find interesting? Do you find that one subject that is interesting? Do you find a certain gesture interesting? A certain patch of light?<\/p>\n
I think that every photo should have one central focusing point. You need a primary \u00e2\u20ac\u0153visual anchor<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for your photograph.<\/p>\n This means you need to make a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153visual hierarchy<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in your photos. What is the first thing you want your viewer to look at? Then what is the second thing you want your viewer to look at? Then the third, fourth, and perhaps fifth?<\/p>\n Always try to focus on the primary thing in your photograph. Then figure out what is not<\/em> the primary thing in your photograph \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and keep on subtracting the fat from your frame.<\/p>\n I read in design that there is nothing more beautiful than a white sheet of paper\u00e2\u20ac\u201d because the possibilities are endless. If you start off with a blank canvas, anything is possible.<\/p>\n If you want a fun assignment: start off with a blank sheet of paper as your background. Then figure out how you can add subjects to it. Put a simple object in it, and try to photograph it best you can.<\/p>\n Then try to add other objects. Figure out how you can add additional objects into the frame, without adding clutter. Try to avoid over-lapping subjects, and things sticking out from the corner of the frame.<\/p>\n Also when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re framing a photo, look at the edges. Make sure the edges are clean. Try your best not<\/em> to crop your photos afterwards \u00e2\u20ac\u201d this will help improve your composition.<\/p>\n To make simple photos is hard. Especially in street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201d when the world is all chaos.<\/p>\n Subtract the chaos. Find tranquility and silence in your photos. The less you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re trying to say in a photograph, the clearer your message.<\/p>\n Focus on the one central subject in your frame. What is the #1 thing you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re trying to say?<\/p>\n The more distractions you remove from the frame, the more focus your \u00e2\u20ac\u0153visual anchor\u00e2\u20ac\u009d can have.<\/p>\n To end this article, there is a story about a person who asked Michaelangelo: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How did you carve the David?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Michaelangelo replies, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It was simple. I simply removed everything that wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t<\/em> David.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\nStart with a blank sheet of paper<\/h2>\n
![\"eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1043\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/eric-kim-street-photography-kodak-tri-x-1600-1043.jpg?resize=1545%2C1024\")
<\/p>\nSimple is hard<\/h2>\n
![\"elegance-seoul-2009\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/elegance-seoul-2009-2000x1333.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333\")
<\/p>\nHow to sculpt David<\/h2>\n
![\"eric-kim-street-photography-the-city-of-angels-black-and-white-5-nails-sweat-downtown-la\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/eric-kim-street-photography-the-city-of-angels-black-and-white-5-nails-sweat-downtown-la-1-2000x1345.jpg?resize=2000%2C1345\")
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