Negative space

In the feedback for assignment two, there is a mention of 'negative space', which is a description I'd not heard of previously.

What is negative space?

• the area that surrounds the main subject (positive space)
• defines and emphasises the main subject - draws the eye
• it provides 'breathing room', giving eyes somewhere to rest and preventing the image from appearing too cluttered with 'stuff'
• when used properly, negative space provides a natural balance against the positive space

How to use it in photography

Our brains have preconceived ideas about the way objects look, size, shape, colour, texture etc. These preconceptions can affect the way we look at a scene. How to overcome this:

• ignore the objects in a scene concentrating on the gaps between and around them, forcing you to concentrate on the composition and helps identify the spaces and shapes
• balance the positive and negative spaces in the shot when framing the photo

When I consider the following image from assignment two, the negative space is at the top of the frame, it doesn't serve any positive use in the image and throws out the balance taking up quite a lot of the frame. 

 

Removing the negative space from the image makes quite an effective difference. The viewer is instantly engaged with the individuals and the focus is on the interaction between the two actors with the expression of the audience member more evident.

Understanding and using negative space in photography