All images by Hengki Koentjoro. Used under a Creative Commons license.Â
Minimalism works best when it comes to effectively isolating the main subject in photographs without unnecessary distractions. Hengki Koentjoro from Indonesia successfully employed the minimalist approach in capturing the lives and objects surrounding the ocean in his photo series “Ocean Recital”.
The sea creates an interesting canvas, populated by natural features such as rocks and living plants, and man-made structures like piers and jetties. Hengki Koentjoro emphasized bare simplicity in his composition by carefully framing his chosen subjects against the background of sea water and sky, and if you look carefully, nothing else. This allowed the unique characteristics of the individual subject to shine. In conjunction with that the entire series was presented in black and white which was synonymous with the overall minimalist theme, further mitigating the distraction due to color presence. Creative use of long exposure smoothed the sea water while blending it with the sky to create a near seamless, singular background. The final outcome evoked the sense of calmness and surrealism surrounding the subject, bringing out fine art qualities in the photographs.
To find out more about Hengki Koentjoro’s work you may visit his online gallery here.Â
