![]() ![]() The primary purpose of negative space is to counter-balance the main focal point of an image in such a way that it controls how and where the viewer’s eye moves within the frame. This, of course, is the domain of negative space. Now to “feel right,” this weight needs to be in balance with the rest of the frame. Typically, the primary subject of your image should possess the greatest visual weight. In simple terms, visual weight determines where the viewer’s eye slows down or even stops. And just like a balance scale is tipped by differing weights, the balance of an image is determined by the combined “visual weights” of its component parts. While subjective by nature, good composition boils down to achieving balance. “Strolling” While the bulk of this image is comprised of sky/cloud, its presence creates a sense of this man’s struggle against vast open expanse. Ironically, this common misconception has only made it more difficult for many photographers to effectively use negative space to make their images more dramatic. Unfortunately, over time and through over-simplification, negative space has become synonymous with emptiness in an image. Place that same full stop on a blank page and your eye will be automatically drawn to and fixated upon the tiny dot. Put a full stop amongst scribes of text and you will pay it no attention. And the reason this works so well is that our brains are programmed to seek out points of difference. By not competing with the viewer’s eye for attention, the negative space naturally draws attention to and emphasizes the primary subject in the image. Now classically, negative space is often thought of as being devoid of much or any detail. And while it may seem easy in principle, incorporating negative space into your images effectively can prove to be rather challenging. Illustration Of Negative Versus Positive Space Negative-Spaceįrom this, we can reasonably conclude that negative space encompasses everything in your composition that is not your primary focus of interest.īut as you’re about to see, negative space is arguably the single most important compositional aspect that helps your image’s primary element of interest stand out and captivate the viewer’s attention. ![]() Alternatively, if you see a vase, then the black is the positive space while the white constitutes the negative space. If, when you look at this image you see two faces, the white areas constitute the positive space while the black constitutes the negative space. To help demonstrate this principle, take a look at the following famous figure. Now in case, you’re not familiar with the term, negative space is commonly used to refer to the space within a frame that surrounds the main subject of interest, the latter of which is often called the positive space. Its inclusion also draws our eye to the boy himself. “Running Boy” While the white wall conveys little in the way of detail, it imparts a strong sense of place and helps the viewer gain more insight into this boy’s life. So in this the first article of the series, I want to discuss one of my favorite compositional tools – negative space. With that in mind, I’ve decided to create a series of articles that aim to break down the key components of the composition in such a way that you can easily and instantly apply them to your photography. That’s because how we frame a scene and how we determine what to include or exclude are intimately linked to our creativity and our unique perspectives. Having given considerable thought as to how I can address these requests, it dawned on me that the one aspect of creative photography most influenced by creative vision is composition. While the three-step formula detailed in my free ebook, The Ultimate Photo Tip is arguably the most powerful formula for predictably elevating the emotional power of your photography, many readers have asked me for even more pragmatic ways to express their unique artistic voices. Which raises the question, “How can we refine our ability to see the extraordinary in the ordinary in a practical manner?” Problem is, as palatable as it may sound, this definition is somewhat vague and offers little in the way of practical application. And the way I like to define creative vision is your ability to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. If you’ve been reading EV Mag for any significant length of time, chances are you’re familiar with my belief that the most critical ingredient for consistently creating captivating images is the creative vision. ![]()
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