27 Award-Winning Minimalist Photos That Prove Sometimes Less Is More
Sometimes photography tries to cram as much as possible into the frame. Minimalist photography does the opposite—it strips everything down until only the essential parts remain, and somehow that makes the image better.
It’s not about being empty or boring, it’s about knowing when to stop adding stuff.
These winning photos from the Minimalist Photography Awards 2025 prove that negative space and restraint can say more than a busy, overstuffed composition ever could.
No clutter, no extra noise, just light and shadow and shape working together in a way that actually makes you stop scrolling.
These are some of the best minimalist fine art photos that won recognition this year for doing more with less.
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1. “Girl in red” by Dorota Górecka
“I love the color red. Full of energy, it is a perfect background for a delicate female body.”
2. 2nd Place Winner: “Mrbrown” by Bruin Feskens
3. “Lonely Lemon” by Fritz Mehner
“Strangely framed, single lemon in front of a yellowish wall.”
4. 3rd Place Winner: “Grace in the dark” by Larisa Schubert
“Frankfurt | Shot on Fujifilm X100V”
5. “Coexistence” by Sungdong Choi
6. “A Winter Morning” by Rosario Civello
“The space surrounding us is often composed of numerous elements arranged chaotically. Everything I do is to put order in the composition, creating a balance of elements – light and dark, points, lines, planes and forms. I visually deconstruct the scene, discarding the superfluous, so that it fits to my natural inclination towards minimalism.”
7. “Some walls, many lines” by Angélica Gómez-Morán
8. “Symphony” by Regula Rebecchi
“With a look at the ceiling at the right moment, you discover unexpected colors and shapes. Each picture is unique, but still part of a symphony.”
9. “Triangle” by Masaki Yazaki
“A triangular fragment of a storefront sign — the leg of an “A” — disrupts the blue symmetry of an urban wall. What appears as pure abstraction reveals itself as a glimpse of everyday signage, reframed through minimal geometry and color contrast.”
10. “Echoes of the universe” by Alexandros Othonos
“Within the dark fabric of the cosmos, a form is born from echoes of time and memory. “Echoes of the Universe” explores the delicate boundary between the personal and the universal, the “self” and the “whole.” A face emerges faintly, as if rising from the void or dissolving into it , surrounded by undulating lines that resemble orbits, sound waves, or the whispered trails of past lives. The image embodies both silence and sound, stillness and motion, a portrait of the quiet dialogue between the human soul and the universe.”
11. “Perfectly Imperfect” by Giulia Filippi
“Perfectly Imperfect”, self-portrait project
12. “Whiteness as Witness” by Adrianna Muffat Jeandet Wojcik
“This photographic series explores the fragile tension between architecture and nature in alpine winter landscapes. Wooden chalets and rural structures are reduced to minimalist silhouettes, partially buried under snow or fading into the whiteness, often isolated in a vast, silent void. Snow acts as both an eraser and a sculptor — softening lines, erasing context, and revealing essential geometry. In the background, a subtle sense of absence lingers: that of a landscape changing, of winters growing lighter. These images invite contemplation on stillness, solitude, and the quiet resilience of built forms facing time, erosion, and impermanence.”
13. “Holiday on Ice” by Richie Johns
“I took this image on the frozen River Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. The local fishermen usually use wooden huts to shelter in while fishing. The odd few utilise old trailers or caravans like this one.”
14. “Two Firs and Twenty-one Skiers” by Rosario Civello
“The space surrounding us is often composed of numerous elements arranged chaotically. Everything he does is to put order in the composition, creating a balance of elements – light and dark, points, lines, planes and forms. He visually deconstructs the scene, discarding the superfluous, so that it fits to its natural inclination towards minimalism.”
15. “Whisper of Life” by Katrine Moite
“This evocative black-and-white photograph beautifully portrays a pregnant figure shrouded in ethereal, flowing fabric. The soft, billowing material symbolizes the protective embrace of motherhood, highlighting the gentle curves of the expectant form. The minimalist backdrop enhances the serene atmosphere, inviting viewers to reflect on the profound journey of creation and the anticipation of new life. The image encapsulates the harmony between vulnerability and strength, embodying the transformative power of bringing a child into the world.”
16. “When Icicles Hang By The Wall” by Sue Oakford
17. “Dog Walk” by Mark Richards
“Taken on 31st January 2025 at West Mersea Beach, Essex. I initially went to photograph the beach huts, but when the cloud didn’t lift, I looked for a different subject. This sand spit jutting out to sea caught my eye – and I was lucky when a woman and her dog paused at the end. Shot at 200mm, f/6.3, 1/200s, the image was composed with a minimal aesthetic in mind. I lifted the whites to lose the horizon and used a gradient to subtly draw focus to the subject.”
18. “Blessed” by Carolina Leske
19. “Cold Dreaming” by Paul Killeen
20. “The Gathering” by Thomas de Franzoni
“This black and white fine art photograph features a lagoon inhabited by a group of flamingos. The scene is shrouded in fog, creating a soft and muted ambiance. The flamingos, with their long legs and necks, stand quietly in the water, adding a sense of calm to the composition. The monochromatic tones capture the details of their feathers and the tranquility of the lagoon environment.”
21. “Minimalism meets wildlife” by Yuto Hirasawa
“The moment minimal landscape meets wildlife.”
22. “Arctic blues” by Brigitte Bourger
“In Greenland, one of the most affected area by climate changes, icebergs are facing an unprecedented threat. As temperature rise, the glaciers are melting in an alarming rate.”
23. “Sentinel” by Jenn Mangino
“A tree and fence after a snowstorm.”
24. “Sunburn” by Cate Franklyn
“A gentle wave flows across the surface of the Atlantic Ocean set against a backdrop of warm, blurred colors that evoke a sense of calm. The scene captures the serene beauty of nature in a soft, dream-like manner. Coney Island Beach, Brooklyn, NY”
25. “In motion” by Chiao-Yun Ren
“I used black and white curves to create a minimalist base, then captured a fleeting red figure to break the stillness. This contrast reflects how motion can disrupt and energize structured space.”
26. “Calmness” by Agata Budzisz
27. 1st Place Winner: “Dream Land” by Robert Bolton
“Lencois Maranhenses is a vast area of sand dunes and fresh water lagoons in the north east of Brazil. In Portuguese “lencois” means bed sheet. The allusion to the idea that a white bed sheet has been lain over the landscape. It is a perfect location for minimalist photography, very otherworldly. The colours emphasise pastels but with some patches of greater intensity. All these images were taken in April 2025.”