Photographs play a huge role in communication. These are images that convey moods, emotions, aesthetics, a sense of place, and so much more.

As South India’s No.1 private college and a leading design institute, J.D. Institute of Fashion Technology recognises and appreciates the importance of photography. We show our students the many ways in which it can portray the world around us.

Two of the techniques that photographers use to create memorable effects is that of minimal and monotone images. Let’s explore these to see how they can add depth and richness.

Minimal Photography: What It Is and What It Does

In a world filled with so many clashing images, photographs that are minimal can provide a refreshing change of scene. Because of this, they can also stand out.

The minimalist approach, therefore, involves simplicity, first and foremost. That means striving for reduced compositional elements such as shape, colour, and line.

The advantage of such a technique is that it removes all extraneous parts and brings focus only to the photograph’s central concept.

There is no other distraction, and the lines and composition draw the eye to this main element. This creates a sense of uniqueness, and can cause a desired emotional response from the viewer.

It can be challenging to do this well. After all, in this technique, a harmonious composition has to be created by using only a bare minimum of elements. And the result must appear whole and complete. When it is achieved successfully, however, the results can be stunning.

Monotonic Photography and Its Advantages

Monotonic photography can create the same effect of uniqueness, but is different from the minimal approach. It is closer to black-and-white photography, but again, it is not identical to it.

With monotonic photography, as the name itself suggests, there are variations of only one colour tone employed in the photograph.

To take such a photograph, you would have to locate an object or scene, or part of the same, where you can see only tonal variants. Many times though, to achieve this effect, photographers process images after they are shot, adding greys to create monotones.

When they are well done, monotonic photographs create complex, subtle, and refined effects. This is a mature and chic style. It is a sharp contrast to other effects that are loud and in-your-face. A sense of dignity and a feeling of quiet sophistication can be the result.

At the J.D. Institute of Fashion Technology, we encourage our students to approach their work in a variety of ways. This ranges from full-colour and bling to minimal and monotone. Each one has its uses, and each one creates its own effects. Our diploma in Fashion Photography teaches an appreciation of such techniques and more for well-rounded and inspirational consequences.