minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Nightski's negative space photo got me thinking about negative space efforts of my own. Here's a recent one, shot on Monhegan Island. The lobster captains were taking turns loading their traps on their boats the day before the season started. Their boats stay anchored in the bay, and they row out to them in dories. This captain's turn had come so he's headed to the farthest boat, the Arielle Hope, to move it to the little dock for loading.

What have I done so far? Applied a high key kind of effect in Perfect Effects and some noise removal. (Fog does look a lot like noise, or at least this particular fog did). Cropped from top and edge including another boat that was in the right edge of the frame.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I love it!

As I mentioned in Nightski's topic, I'd been thinking of re-visiting negative space just this morning, myself. So am delighted more are hopping aboard.

The bad news is it seems everyone has a different definition, including Googled articles :)

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

Lovely image! Recent negative space topics made me realize how much I like these photos.

Nightski

So you can have more than one point of interest in a negative space photo? Explain. This one's more complex than Fstop22's.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

In my reading and workshops I've got the impression that the concept of negative space is general rather than specific - we use the part of the image without content purposefully for effect, so that the lack of content IS an element of the composition. The amount can vary and how it's used can vary. Of course some contests/judges may prefer a single item (flower, face, mountain) with everything else absent, but I don't think it's a requirement. In your wheatfield photo, the wheat is part of the composition, though a secondary point of interest, but it doesn't detract in my opinion, it leads. The reason I didn't prefer the improved sky is because it took away the negative space. In my lobsterman photo, it was my attempt to contain the man and the boats in a small triangle cradled in a mass of water and fog to illustrate the isolation and determination of this occupation that hasn't changed much over the centuries.

The photo below is one I took a few years ago that came in second in some little negative space competition. Can't remember if this is the exact rendition I used but it is the same photo. I didn't try to get the limb out of it (even though it's covered with bird poop), it was needed to show where he came from.

Nightski

I feel it. Love this shot.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

STUNNING image and your explanations, both of negative space, and why you left in the log, are super-helpful!

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

In my understanding negative space is as much about the shape and form as it is the details in the picture. In your bird picture especially the space that is not the main part of the picture emphasizes the shape and form.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

That is my understanding as well. The "traditional" concept of negative space was to emphasize the shape/form.

But if you think there's confusion over negative space, go check the entries for Minimalism in the current contest....

rebride

I like that you didn't crop closer. The wide V of the rower's wake and even the fog above that mimics it.
The expanse of the scene really makes it.
Even the name of the boat, Legacy, adds something to it all.
It evokes many memories for me.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Thank you for commenting. It's kind of exciting when someone picks up on the more subtle nuances of your image. Legacy is a great name for one of the "senior" boats in their fleet. Hope is one of the newest with this very young captain. All those little details help make the story. And the crop was chosen to get as much work as possible out of those inverted V's of the oars and the wake.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I read what you said about the "vee" from the wake of the smaller boat as reading lines. I think a bottom crop could strengthen these leading lines.

Also, did you convert to monochrome? I don't usually go Sepia. but this one seems to beg for it. Do you wish to see another version?

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I'm always open to different interpretations. I play with my photos all the time, looking for other pictures that are hiding in there. Play away! I didn't try a sepia though I did do a cool-tone monochrome.Warning, this one was developed to enhance that empty space so there could be some detail in my RAW that you can't see as well in the jpeg.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

OK. I understand that these changes may change your original intent... but here goes. Essentially, I did three things: Increased the contrast, cropped the bottom to accentuate the leading lines from the "v" in the water, and added the Sepia toning.

Nightski

You've brought it to life, LRF.