Negative space is a compositional technique that can be employed to produce eye-catching photos. So, let's take a look at the technique?
Using Negative Space
At a fundamental level, any image can be broken down into three components
Frame: The frame is the border that encompasses the rest of the image.
Positive Space: The positive space is actually the subject of the image. This is usually the object on which the camera is focused.
Negative Space: The negative space is the rest of the image. It sits between the positive space and the frame.
Any image is formed, in various proportions, of the frame, positive space, and negative space. In order to make great images, it is necessary to manage these components.
When many people go about composing an image, they concentrate their attention on the positive space. The area encompassing the subject, the negative space, ends up being whatever happened to be there at the moment the image was taken. This is not the most effective way to compose an image! When correctly employed, the negative space can serve two very important functions:
First: The negative space can help convey the story of the positive space. That is, it helps to define or characterize the positive space.
Second: The negative space can encompass the positive space in a manner that can make it much more noticeable.
So, just how can the negative space help to define the positive space? Essentially, the negative space yields supplemental detail that enhances the story of the positive space. As one example, a photograph may display part of a bridge. On the other hand, there may be few details that give any hints of where the bridge is located. Is the subject that forms the positive space in a crowded, urban park or in a natural environment? We can not tell from the close-up. To be able to better define the positive space, more detail is needed. Now, imagine that the photographer chose to zoom out. In that case, some of the environment around the positive space could be viewed (maybe, the surrounding environment was a spectacular mountain region). This would certainly produce a negative space that helps to define the positive space.
While using a negative space can really strengthen an image, there is one thing that should be avoided. The negative space should never be allowed to overwhelm the positive space as this would work to weaken the image. For this example, the photographer might render the negative space a bit out of focus so that it becomes subservient to the positive space.
The other purpose of the negative space is to help make the positive space more noticeable. This is achieved because the negative space helps to manage the attention of a viewer. It does this by helping to lead the viewer's attention to the positive space. To make the negative space more effective at focusing the attention, all distracting detail must be eliminated from the negative space. Making the negative space contrast in some way (e.g., in tone, color, or pattern) with the positive space is another way to make the positive space stand out.
So the moral of the story is that each of these two spaces has to be very carefully evaluated when an image is composed. Basically, photographers need to pay as much attention to the negative space as they do the positive space.
Just remember, paying attention to the negative space helps create better images.
Photography Project
So, why don't you establish a photography project around this concept. For this project, you should focus on capturing images that have very carefully thought out negative spaces.
In Conclusion
This article introduced just one idea for a photography project. On the other hand, there is a lot more to learn.
Do you want to research a few more photography ideas? To access several more ideas, go to Photography Ideas for Creating Impressive Images.