Some of these photos have distractions in them, I've tried to capture these distractions and compare them to an image without the distraction.

 This picture is not particularly cluttered, as a matter of fact, the background adds dimension to the image. However, sometimes as artists, when attempting to emphasize a particular trait or phenomenon it is necessary to cut out everything but what is absolutely necessary.

Isolation is a useful tool for concentration. 'Meditation' has a couple meanings for me; one is deep concentration on a particular task, it can also mean not thinking, or cleansing your mind of thought. In either case the same purpose is achieved, you are focused on one particular goal or object. Taking in an object is in it's entirety (or its absence).

We can look at this image and see the bag and the gloves atop it, clearly the subject of the picture. But the subject is cluttered, obscured because of the objects behind it. These other objects have a similar theme; they are all mechanical, industrial and practical. But this makes the hanging bag seem out of place, the theme seems to be shifted away from the subject. Unnecessary distractions, though adding depth, are detrimental to a simple narrative.

Until next time.