St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Hey Hedgehogs, it’s time for another Weekly Photo Challenge. This week’s theme is entitled Negative Space.
- Be sure the title or description of your entry explains your interpretation of the theme.

The challenges are simple. You start with a theme, but the twist is that everyone needs to submit a title or description *(see end) with their photo that explains the ‘who, what, where, why, when or how’ they went through to get it. This helps us ‘feel’ the moment as you did, but can also help with voting. You might even find some great tips to make yours better.

This is about challenging yourself, pushing beyond your limits, so have fun and try anything and everything whether you are good at it or not.
- You can't win if you don't try.

DEFINITIONS -
"Negative space is the area between and around objects in a photo. Use it to see shapes and sizes more effectively, and produce better composed images."
from http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/understanding-and-using-negative-space-in-photography
or
"Negative Space is the space between an object, around an object, but is not part of the actual object itself. It is the opposite of an identifiable object which can at the same time be used to help define the boundaries of positive space."
from http://www.tutorial9.net/articles/design/enhancing-your-art-with-negative-space
also see -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_space
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_space_(visual_arts)
http://arthistory.about.com/od/glossary/g/n_negativespace.htm

HELP -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKc-0QEbZbo
http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/understanding-and-using-negative-space-in-photography
http://www.tutorial9.net/articles/design/enhancing-your-art-with-negative-space
http://www.flickr.com/groups/learn_composition_by_example/discuss/72157627271829164
http://www.apogeephoto.com/mag1-3/mag1-3mf1.shtml

Now for the legal stuff:
- Contests start Friday mornings and end Wednesday evenings (EST)
- Voting starts Thursday morning and ends Friday evening (EST)
- One original entry per member, and entries may only be used once. Repeats will be deleted.
- [b]Entries that do not follow the theme will be deleted[bu]
- Photos MUST include a title or description *(see below). Untitled entries will be deleted
- Post processing is fine, but keep it to a minimum
- Archived photos are not encouraged - please shoot your photo during the challenge
- Once voting starts there can be no additional entries
- To keep it fair, the user names and vote counts are hidden until voting is over and winners are announced.
- All votes are anonymous
- A maximum of 250 entries will be allowed per challenge
- Your entry may be used in the WPC - Analysis Forum
- Rules are subject to change as the challenges require

If you need me, send a Private Message or leave a Reply here. Thank you all! St3v3M

> Post Your Entries Here: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest.jsp?pcnum=72 <

* How to add a title or description to your entry
- Click the link above
- Read Challenge Page
- Scroll down
- Enter your Title or Description in the blank white box
- Click Choose File to select your entry
- Click Upload

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for all the links explaining “negative space”. I did know what it is, but my knowledge was rudimentary. After viewing the links you provided, I now have a greater understanding of negative space and how it can be used in a photo. Now let’s see if I can get this expanded definition to translate through the lens for me.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I will be excited to see what comes of it!

sammytalia7 Loc: Verde Valley, Arizona

Negative space helps to emphasize the hummingbirds form and motion in flight.

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

I wanted to learn also about negative space, but I see many submissions would not fall into that category... Any comments? If the jurors do not understand the concept I don't think this one in particular is not going to go well, though I hope it does. Just an opinion, many people just look in their inventory and post what they think is negative space; they don't look at the rules, don't go out and shoot with the theme in mind. I was about to post something base don what I thought was neg. space then decided to read the rules. No way that post of mine would have fit the bill.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Many prior contests have had entries that didn't follow the theme, and yet people vote for them (spiders as "insects" was a recent one, symmetry another).

I had requested this week's theme to Steve because the topic had come up at my little camera club last month and so I researched a bit. I then posted a topic on UHH in which there were some very interesting opinions posted - some of it contradictory (no! :) ).

Then I noticed that some of the articles online contradict each other and are certainly subjective in their interpretations of the images.

Hopefully, this contest will help some members learn a bit about the EFFECTIVE use of negative space as part of the overall composition. I think Steve is removing some of the really obvious non-compliant. But I guess, ultimately, it's up to the entrants as to whether they want to learn and grow - and whether they care about the theme when they vote.

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

Yep, I guess we have to be flexible.

CalJoe2013 Loc: Westminster, Ca

I'm guilty here I guess in that I did post a photo taken earlier this year as I haven't had time to go out and shoot this week. My question would be just how much negative space in your shot is enough to qualify as a negative space photo? I see many fantastic shots entered that seem to be what was intended. My personal request would be to take the best 5 or 10 shots that represent negative space and show us all how they used negative space to compliment their photo. Maybe even a couple that came close and some advise on how it could have been improved. That would help me at least understand the concept better and I'm sure others as well. Just my opinion.
JM

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Maybe Steve will volunteer to choose the 10 best!!

sammytalia7 Loc: Verde Valley, Arizona

Corky's appeal is all in his face. I used negative space to draw attention to his eyes and cute button nose. White negative space against white fur drew my eyes to his face.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Hey JM, Negative Space is a very subjective than can add a lot of impact to your photos. Funny, huh? Subjective, but adds impact. A classical example of Negative Space would be of a fence in a field of snow. Normally the fence might not hold enough interest by itself, but when it is given the field with nothing but snow to frame it all of sudden the fence takes on a life of its own. You see shadow and texture where you might otherwise have missed it. Negative Space is one of those 'Ah-Ha' moments more than anything else as you will definitely know it when you see it. To add to its mystery though, look though some of the entries in this challenge and notice how the artist took a single, simple object, and by blurring the background made it pop.

It really isn't about 'space' as in a large pasture or vast ocean, but more about how you use what is around the focal point to draw your eye in. A single rock in a pond with the trees as the backdrop just out of focus, maybe a flower in a field where the one off-center is in focus with the rest barely recognizable. It isn't about black and white, although that can make it easier to see, but more about using the surround to focus your eye.

As to the rest, while I do not vote as I do not think it fair I do have a few favorites, but like a museum with high quality work it matters more what touches you than what I like. Take another look now and tell me if you see it. Do not name names, but tell me as I am curious now to how you see the world around you! Steve

p.s. to add to the confusion there is a very interesting topic at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-140540-1.html

CHuckle's Loc: Lockhart, Texas

My question is, what do the #'s next to the vote count mean. I noticed some entrants had fewer votes but higher #'s. Regardless, I was SO excited that my image acquired a few votes...:)

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

From http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-140702-1.html

Please note the way voting works.
You can vote as many times as you like, but only have one (1) voting point.
If you vote for multiple entries, your (1) point gets divided among them all.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-1-1.html#98691
- scroll down to Voting