white space

In photography, white space (also known as negative space) is used to create a balanced and harmonious image. It is defined as "the space between elements in a composition." What I love most is that it's ever changing, depending on how you look at the world and move your camera. There is a certain stretching of my brain that comes with this thought, that nothing is constant. And with that is comfort in knowing everything is in relation to the edge of the image. 

There is a certain dreaminess that is achieved with composition in photography. It exists only as a place within the frame. And if you are like me, it gives you room to breathe and space to think. It comes as no surprise then, that I am drawn to white space when I look through my camera. It's true what they say:  negative space can have a positive effect.

Annie Leibovitz was right, there is nothing wrong with white space. So, tell me, how do you view the world around you? Look for space in your photography today ... and share with us what you find.

Comments

[Marcie]

I'm a huge fan of 'white' or 'negative' space. Most of my images are filled with more of that than the actual 'subject' itself:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1109

[Beatriz Macias]

Really great images! Thank you for sharing. I find so much inspiration visiting SS, it helps me look at the world in a new way... My white space image, a personal fav: http://www.flickr.com/photos/suitcasecontents/4349098632/

[Photography Holidays]

Love this blog. I visit it every now and then. It's informative and nicely written. It's inspiring to see people getting out there and doing it! Will recommend to my students. Keep on posting!

[AmyBean]

I was going through a rough patch a couple of weeks ago, and I was feeling like I had to start over with some things. I felt like the embodiment of white space -- a blank slate, with a little constant piece of myself that was waiting to take up the frame. So I came up with this to convey what I was feeling:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15772313@N07/4337854683/

[Vanessa]

thank you for the inspiration... and all those mesmerising links!
i'm not quite sure if i use negative space as effectively as i'd like, but here are some of my fonder attempts:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4434325221/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4310273968/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3295308189/in/set-72157607450910728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/2881522053/in/set-72157607454224383/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4137823877/

[Indigo]

Here's my take on negative space:
http://indigo2087.blogspot.com/2010/03/im-back.html

[E L K]

I embrace it this week . thanks meredith


on a window sill:

http://www.redorgray.com/2010/03/leafjpg-by-e-l-k-on-flickr.html

[melissa]

Great quote, great examples today!

[stacy a]

Great post & love the quote!

Here are a couple of mine...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/weeonespov/4261214998/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/weeonespov/4324295736/

[~ kristina ~]

I get 'black space' often when I shoot in the early morning!

http://meadowlarkdays.blogspot.com/2010/03/jasmine-vanilla.html

[Liz]

there are some days when i pick up my camera and have nothing but negative space on the brain :) these are just a few of my faves

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogliz/3479093156/in/set-72157616834573788/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogliz/4363925628/in/set-72157616782632586/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogliz/3485069066/in/set-72157616782511446/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogliz/3514065873/in/set-72157616782511446/

[Jennifer]

Here is one of mine....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23134155@N07/3984912514/

[damiec]

I really enjoyed this post. The images were so striking and served as a great reminder.

I like the dramatic negative-space you can achieve with dark shadow:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/3838712674/

[Karyn]

I love 'white space' in photographs. You're so right. It does give you room to think, breathe, and enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayak57/4249133202/in/set-72157623147076060/

[Joy]

I love to crop in tight, but I'm finding the opposite to be just as exciting and refreshing:

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy95/joyschmoll/Nature/HeartHome19.jpg

[Ari]

Love that shot above. And I'm a big fan of negative space... for some reason I like taking a picture of ONE thing and then off-centering it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousillusion/4426278452/

[Diane]

Oh yes, I love working with negative space. I use it a lot.
Though I only have a few at Flickr right now, more are on my photo journal so here then are some recent ones at Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27458974@N00/4402055130/
"my snowshoes"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27458974@N00/4398650427/
"poetry"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27458974@N00/4420860683/
"in a dream"

Enjoy!

[Elizabeth Harper]

I struggle with white space. I tend to like to get in tight. Perhaps I am too intent on controlling the direction of my viewers gaze.

[brittany]

love this post. definitely need to allow more space in my shots, because when i do, i love the way it looks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/3432106663/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/3432102901/in/photostream/

[Michel]

So much inspiration today. thanks!!
As a designer I love the power of white space. Not everyone understands it though.
I happen to totally agree with you today on my blog... quite serendipitous.

http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/3/16/reflection-mirror.html

I also liked this composition
http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/2/21/sunday-cross.html

[Stephanie]

I love this blog. It gives me new things to think about when I'm feeling stumped in my photography. I usually like to get in close, too, but I've been playing with leaving negative space for a dreamier quality.

http://bigmariolife.blogspot.com/2010/03/street-lamps.html

[cigi]

Thank you for the great post! I can always count on this site for inspiration and food for thought.

One of my personal favorites:

http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/12365/

[Lauren]

I always love the links you share. I get to see so much beautiful art from so many lovely souls!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18572605@N02/4269667392/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18572605@N02/4254300124/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18572605@N02/4157900185/

[Jessica]

here's one from this morning

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27982366@N06/4438734192/

working with negative space is so fun and something i need to do more often.....thanks!

[spread your wings]

thanks for all the inspiration you offer. i do like negative space, often placing my focus off to the side.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/4034935516/in/set-72157614305672874/

[Laura]

Love this post! I'm a huge fan of negative space. I agree with you...gives me room to breathe and space to think.
I'll share a couple....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35374947@N04/4416660597/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35374947@N04/4377919920/in/set-72157621903050992/

[DorkyMum]

Great post -- and thanks to all the incredibly talented photographers for sharing. Here are a couple of mine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4437739323/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4405451777/

[xanthe]

thanks for this lovely post. loved your examples of negative space meredith.

i like to think of that extra space as positive. especially when i get to see more of the sky.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/3838654281/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4408897059/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4236496041/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4237932546/

[natalyn]

I really like this. I've noticed recently that I seem to be rather fond of negative space:

http://nattysfamily.blogspot.com/2010/03/negative-space.html

[Kate.S @ Little House]

I love snow for inspiring 'negative' space. Not sorry its going though :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30297021@N02/4439529384/

[lucy]

It's interesting to see how everyone interprets white space. Here's my take on it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucyloomis/4317539712/

[georgia]

oh, thank you so much for the link to my photo, merideth. that really made my day! and it was already a good day!

you see, i had gone out in search of some shots that were purely inspired by your post that i read this morning. i was please to capture these when i pulled into the parking lot at work:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28567264@N05/4438941285/

then i came home and looked at all your links {which is when i discovered the link to winter fog! - thanks again}. the rest of the links are all really wonderful. i am especially drawn to your powerline shot. i love photos of powerlines against a big monotone sky like that. i've even created a gallery of my powerline shots on my blog because i like those so much. yours is really great! i love how the sky changes from that gorgeous blue to pure light.

[spencercasa]

i love white space. i like photos that aren't "busy". here is a bit of white space:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23196640@N03/4432993936/in/photostream/

[Secret Agent Mama - Mishelle Lane]

I. Love. Negative. Space.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/4393216929/in/set-72157623401130859/

[claudia]

I need to experiment more with negative space, when ever I do I like the results
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/4292551692/in/set-72157623126420850/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/4425508859/in/set-72157623126420850/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/4308532708/in/set-72157623126420850/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/4419103452/

[wendy]

Love white space...here is one of my lastest...

http://awebert.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/day-16/

[Sarah]

This post inspired me to take this shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29406311@N04/4446211371/

[Alison - computer repair houston]

I agree. SPACE makes me think a lot. I have some designs that incorporate minimalism and so much space.