Understanding the use of Negative Space - please help: Do these images of mine constitute an effective use of negative space? Why or why not? Please post your own examples

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Do these images of mine constitute an effective use of negative space? Why or why not?

Please post your own examples - and explain. I'm trying to get a handle on this so I can offer a little class to my camera club!

THANKS MUCH :)

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

To me it is very difficult to explain, but I really do like what you have done!! Beautiful photos!

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

I found this link the other day - it's epic - epic !

http://www.wired.com/design/2013/07/8-epic-landscapes-of-the-same-tiny-house/

See the composition / light / space.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Wahawk wrote:

To me it is very difficult to explain, but I really do like what you have done!! Beautiful photos!

Thanks Wahawk!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Ugly Jake wrote:

I found this link the other day - it's epic - epic !

http://www.wired.com/design/2013/07/8-epic-landscapes-of-the-same-tiny-house/

See the composition / light / space.

Well by golly, I'd say that's one mighty stunning, jaw-dropping series!! Thank you so much Jake - now I need to delete my paltry examples :)

Dave Johnson Loc: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hey Linda, Here is a nice little article on negative space. http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/understanding-and-using-negative-space-in-photography

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

drj521 wrote:

Hey Linda, Here is a nice little article on negative space. http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/understanding-and-using-negative-space-in-photography

Thank you drj. I did find that site when I was researching. Was hoping some fellow hogs would post some shots so we could have a discussion about them :)

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Positive and negative space is a difficult subject to get a grip on. As I see it, it is the interaction between the subject and its background where both become important parts of the composition. It is often seen where the negative space takes on visual weight of its own and could stand on its own such as seen in a silhouette.

Here is a link to a good tutorial on it:

http://www.apogeephoto.com/mag1-3/mag1-3mf1.shtml

Attached is a photo of mine taken in the Alaskan temperate rain forest. I think it works because of the interaction between the dark tree branches and the brightness beyond. One doesn't know which is the subject and the eye keeps going back and forth between the two. Don't look at this picture close up. Back off a little and I hope you will see what I mean. The intersections of the branches create shapes: triangles, diamonds, lozenges etc that can stand on thieir own. This creates a visual tension between the positive and negative space...but which is which? Which is the subject which is the background?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

birdpix wrote:

Positive and negative space is a difficult subject... (show quote)

Thank you for posting the image, Ed. More food for thought :)

I liked a couple of points in that tutorial, too - especially the viewing an image upside down. I think I vaguely recall that from a class years ago + I know it's an exercise in "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain."

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Linda, I think #3 is the best example of P&N space. I find my eye going back and forth between the rock and the background. #1 might be made stronger by cropping enough to balance the background with the foreground.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

birdpix wrote:

Linda, I think #3 is the best example of P&N space. I find my eye going back and forth between the rock and the background. #1 might be made stronger by cropping enough to balance the background with the foreground.

#3 - ah, almost optical illusion? Like...what the heck is this? :)

#1 - I re-posted the original, stored, if you would like to give me your vision/version. Appreciate your time and patience!

Stronger this way? Or maybe bad pic 'cause eyeless?!

Pierre H.J. Dumais Loc: Mississippi Mills, Ont.

Linda From Maine wrote:

Do these images of mine constitute an effective use of negative space? Why or why not?

Please post your own examples - and explain. I'm trying to get a handle on this so I can offer a little class to my camera club!

THANKS MUCH :)

Getting into my photo library right now is an exercise in futility so I have nothing to send you.
But, your first two images really pull me in because of the empty space in each.The third, because of the patterns, says nothing interesting.
In other words, the empty space conveys a story for the subject. I paused a while viewing the first two, but, the third did not hold my attention.
I think, negative space can powerfully give the subject (a bird or a rock, in this case) a special meaning.

Pierre

Rongnongno Loc: FL

In illustration positive space is the subject of the illustration or photography and the negative space is what surrounds it, drawing the attention away.

That is all it is, it has nothing to do with the 'negative' as older film had.

When one uses a green background to isolate a subject in the foreground is the best example of its use in digital photography and videography.

The concept is simple, it's uses less so.

Photo/video bombing is also a good example of 'negative space'. Something or someone presence or activity draws the attention away.

A 'good' negative space essentially draws the viewer to the subject, not away (as photo bombing).

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

PierreH wrote:

Getting into my photo library right now is an exer... (show quote)

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

Linda From Maine wrote:

Well by golly, I'd say that's one mighty stunning, jaw-dropping series!! Thank you so much Jake - now I need to delete my paltry examples :)

No, Linda, yours are fine, but that was epic !

Here's one that's a little different - (It's from my Bullseye Period) - but if you look at the blue, you get a sense of space - almost in 3 D. (IMHO)