Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Sorry, couldn't resist :P

Graham

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Hahahahaha.........talk about having time to kill! Good one Graham.

Laughing too hard to critique. :thumbup: :lol:

Nightski

But think about this. If you had a little boy, on a 3 leg stool, sitting in the corner, shoulders slumped, baseball cap on, you would have one heck of a negative space.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

:P Speaking of boys and baseball caps, over here a baseball cap worn back to front is called an "IQ reducer" 8-)

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

And I dare say it seems to work quite well over here. 8-)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Nightski

I was being serious about the little boy idea. I didn't mean to start a chit chat thread. Let's stay on topic here people.

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Yes, m'um. :oops:

I have begun studying negative space since I first noticed the discussion, like two days ago, and I think this picture strongly qualifies. There are only two elements in the picture: the subject and the surrounding nearly totally empty space. (Someone is likely to suggest carefully removing any suggestion of shape in the background but I would not—I think there needs to be something there or it looks like a whiteout in snow or something). Fully 4/5 of the picture is space. The figure is isolated, but clearly moving, on some kind of mission. There is nothing to draw my eye but the subject, therefore I believe this is truly "negative space."

There has been, in my opinion at least, sometimes rather too much emphasis on "rules." I would rather call most of them "suggestions" or "guidelines." This picture pretty closely conforms to the Suggestion of Thirds, and aside from that is (I believe) compositionally very strong. One "rule" that gets invoked a lot is the Does It Tell A Story Rule. I prefer the Does It Ask A Question Suggestion. When looking at any visual art the work should (I believe) stimulate a question, and the answers we come up with tell the story. Therefore yes, the picture tells a story. The figure is slight: is it a man or a woman, or even a child? Where is s/he going? Where has s/he been. Is it really cold enough for that marvelous hat? Probably—s/he's got a parka on, too.

I got thinking about the composition and have concluded that the composition would be equally strong, and perhaps even stronger (!) if the figure were walking out of frame rather than in, "breaking" an ancient compositional "rule."

Well anyway, invoking "The Graham Rule," I keep lingering over the picture, therefore it is good. :thumbup:

Nightski

I would like to be contrary...Surprise! I would like to edit the "Graham Rule". Ready? Get out your shot glass Graham. :-D

I keep lingering over the photograph, therefore it has possibilities

Okay, I know that nobody is surprised that Nightski is being contrary. But, I would like to point out that just because I linger, does not make it good. I may have to go back and reframe, or rearrange. I may just have some post to do. I have a good idea, but that is not enough for me. If I may be so bold to point out, that it obviously is not enough for Graham either, having seen what he can do.

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Quite correct! I shall henceforth amend the "rule" (which is actually only a guideline anyway). :-D :-D

Yeah, but see, in this case Graham took it, so by default it's good :lol: :mrgreen: (And I can see Graham squirming from here!) :twisted: :twisted: