Limitations Improve Art: The Creative Power of Constraints
There’s been a lot of talk lately on the subject of limitations. Can a camera with fewer features actually make you a better photographer? Does the restraint of straight-out-of-camera photography force you to consider more deeply your creative choices? Were the autofocus woes of 2024 actually a blessing in disguise for some because they used that opportunity to learn new techniques and better anticipate the decisive moment? It seems counterintuitive, but can limitations actually improve your photography?
Many artists, including photographers, have discovered that constraints—whether intentional or unintentional—can actually improve creativity and technical skills. Composer Igor Stravinsky famously stated, “The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees oneself of the chains that shackle the spirit.” Simply put, less is more.
Photography, like any other art form, thrives on creative problem-solving. When you limit your tools, you’re forced to think outside-the-box. For example, if you self-imposed the limitation of using just one prime lens for an entire month, you’d quickly learn how to frame shots differently, how to move to get the best composition, and how to make the most of the gear you have. Instead of endlessly swapping lenses (or constantly zooming in-and-out), you’d refine your eye.
Film Simulation Recipes are an excellent example of how restrictions can fuel creativity. In order to choose the most appropriate Recipe for your style and the specific situation, you may have to consider more deeply the colors and light of the scene in front of you. This might help improve both your vision and execution.
Another benefit of limitations is technical improvement. When you take away some of your tools—perhaps some features that you’ve convinced yourself you need—it forces you to master the fundamentals. Let’s say you decide to shoot fully manual for a week. It might be frustrating for the first few days, but then your ability to judge exposure, your understanding of the exposure-triangle, and your manual-focus skills will skyrocket.
The same applies to using a single film simulation for a project. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how color and tonality interact. You’ll learn when Classic Chrome’s Kodak-like palette works best, or when Velvia’s vibrant colors are more appropriate. The more experience you have with film simulations and Recipes, the better you will be at getting the most out of them.
Pablo Picasso once said, “If you have five elements available, use only four. If you have four elements, use only three.” Working within a framework forces us to be more deliberate, more thoughtful, and ultimately more innovative. This is where creativity lives. Orson Wells put it this way: “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.”
If you want to push your photography further, try setting some limits. Use only one camera and one lens for a month. Or shoot only black and white for a week. Stick to a single Film Simulation Recipe for an entire project. Maybe try an older, less capable camera for awhile. Or disable a feature that you often rely on, like auto-ISO or IBIS. If a certain limitation is forced on you—you didn’t choose it—don’t fret; instead, let it propel you to greater heights. You might be surprised at just how much you grow as a photographer. In the end, art isn’t about having the most or best tools—it’s about how well you use the ones you have. Limitations aren’t roadblocks; they’re opportunities, stepping stones to mastery. Constraints aren’t just a path to creativity, they are the path.
