Photography is the art of exclusion. 

Most people probably believe the opposite is true--that taking pictures is an exercise of capturing all the intricate vast details of a scene in the most pleasant way possible. 

Over time, experienced photographers realize improving their photography means knowing what should be left out of the picture.  

I've certainly learned that life works exactly the same way.   I'm sure you've heard the expression "less is more."

The best benefit of aging (there aren't many) is the realization that time is the most valuable currency.  It becomes more valuable every single day.  The longer I live, the more I understand the power of excluding things in my life to save this precious valuable time.  

The purest photograph is to cut out as much as possible to emphasize the most compelling subject.  

All the same, the purest life is to eliminate as many distractions as possible that hold little or no value.  Indeed, knowing value only gets easier with time, experience, and trial and error.

"Yes" used to be my default answer until I slowly realized the powerful effects of "no". 

"N-O" are two simple letters forming the ultimate tool to maintain purity and keep clutter and distractions out of my picture, with and without my camera.