Have you seen FX’s The Bear? It just made waves by winning 11 Emmy Awards in 2024! Surprisingly, it holds some valuable lessons that can be applied to photography.
In the realm of culinary arts, we follow the journey of Chef Carmy, portrayed by Jeremy Allen White. During his training at a prestigious fine-dining restaurant, he discovers the art of ‘SUBTRACT’—the skill of eliminating unnecessary ingredients to achieve perfect precision in every dish. His mastery leads him to open his own restaurant, named The Bear.
In this article, we will explore how subtraction can enhance clarity and create more impactful photos.
Photography is all about decision-making
We may not be Michelin-star chefs, but we certainly don’t throw every ingredient from the fridge onto a plate and let the customer decide what they like, right? It makes perfect sense to be selective.
Every decision you make—from your vantage point and the moment you press the shutter button to the elements you choose to include or exclude—shapes the story you tell.
(There are other factors such as the time of day, weather, lighting, and focal length all matter, but we won’t discuss those this time)
Minimalist style is one of the great examples of subtraction. It focuses on one thing, making it loud and clear.
1. Pick your main subject
2. Declutter
Composition
Make it clear who the main subject is, so your viewers don’t have to guess.
For example, in this scene, the flowers are scattered. I noticed one flower that looks different, and it will be my main subject.
How can I declutter by subtraction?
I chose four flowers and arranged them to create a path for the audience to follow.
Here are the nuances I see as a photographer:
Focus: I set the focus on the second flower, the largest of all, while the others serve as supporting actors to enrich the frame.
Path: The path extends from the lower left corner to the upper right, creating a sense of ascent.
Camera Angle: I lowered my camera to achieve equal spacing between the flowers.
These techniques are easy to incorporate, whether you’re using a phone or a camera.
Other ways to declutter:
Scale: Position your main subject close to the camera to make it appear larger and more prominent.
Depth of Field (DOF): A wide aperture (f/1.4-f/4) is great for creating separation from the background.
Tonal Contrast: Place your subject in the brightest part of the image, illuminated by light, while keeping foreground elements in shadow.
Background: Choose a simple, muted color for your background to avoid distraction.
Carmy learned his lesson, and I learned mine a few years ago.
Back in the days when I worked as a freelancer, I took on a project at a small production house where the boss wore many hats—he was the cameraman, scriptwriter, and editor all at once. He would take my project files and make changes, he pointed out that my layers were all over the place.
I used to think that workflow only mattered to me, because no one see it, but this experience has reshaped the way I work.
Streamlining Workflow
If you’ve ever used online Lightroom presets, you know what I mean—it can feel like a maze. You have to go through each panel to figure out what each one does. That was me, I had no system, I would create extra layers spontaneously and out of laziness.
I realize that means I have no clarity on my end. Redundant layers also slowed down my computer.
If you can do it with one panel, why use three?
Now, every time I create a color grading tutorial, I ask myself questions like:
1. Is it necessary?
2. Is there a better way to do it?
Example #1
If I want to add blue to the shadows, I can do it with –
- Tone Curve
- Color Grading Tool
I would examine the Color Grading Tool panel to see if I could eliminate extra steps and use the Tone Curve to complete the task or vice versa.
Example #2
Have I increased the shadows at any point and then re-darkened them with a mask? Little details like that help streamline my process.
I ensure my Lightroom presets are easy to follow, even for beginners, potentially saving everyone five minutes.
With all of Lightroom’s features, it’s easy to get lost in adding endless masks. However, if you want to create a preset for everyone to use on other photos, that approach won’t work.
This is how to apply the principle of subtraction in photography. By eliminating unnecessary elements, we not only enhance our composition but also minimize confusion, saving everyone time in the process.