This is one of my minimalist photographs, one with a strong graphic expression. The lines in the image guide the viewer towards the subject, the two individuals. The railing of the staircase stands out in the shades of the sky, guiding the way without becoming dominant. There are two horizontal lines that meet. There are two people meeting. There are two colors meeting. Light and darkness divide the image into a sharp zigzag zone. The individuals have emerged from the darkness through dialogue. The contrasts are significant, the details few, and the simplicity allows us to delve into the core of the narrative.
I once heard a philosophical question: How much of a theater can you strip away and still have a theater? You could remove the stage curtain, the script, the stage technicians, and the lighting. You could get rid of the director, indeed the entire building. You don’t need any of that. The only thing you can’t do without and still have “theater” is an actor in a space and someone watching. These are the fundamental elements of a theater. Everything else should only be added if it adds value to the purpose. The same applies to this month’s photo, where we’re down to the essentials to tell the story: the subject (the individuals), the location (the staircase), and the observer (you). I find the thought experiment valuable as it helps to strip away unnecessary noise.