Angie McAdam
The Beauty of Simplicity
Once, while I was on a little farm, waiting for my mother, I glanced up to see this
tiny shed in the distance. As soon as I laid eyes on it, I knew I had to capture the image.
What caught my attention was the shed’s beauty. It was old, simple, and humble; but it
was still beautiful. The culture says that beauty is flashy, perfect, and glamorous. The
shed, this photograph’s subject, was none of these. Sometimes we feel like this shed:
alone and worn. Many of us never realize that we are beautiful. Many times the most
inspiring, timeless beauty is found in the elegance of simplicity, if we only take the time
to notice it.
There are some elements that really add to the image. First, the contrasting forms
and textures among the shed, fence, and tree are pleasing to the eye. Also, the
composition of the photograph makes it appear as if the tree and the fence frame the
shed. I chose black and white for this image because it portrayed simplicity and provided
a thought-provoking feel. The black and white also displayed the knots and grains in the
siding of the shed well. Today, many of us feel worn and lonely, like this shed. Perhaps
our greatest mistake is overlooking our own distinctive loveliness instead of appreciating
the profoundly simple beauty we all possess.
