Making space

1. l i g h t h o u s e., 2. 334 :: 365, 3. Magnitude, 4. DSC_4769, 5. in my rear view, 6. 1/52

From the Shutter Sisters book:

Negative space: "The space around and between the subject(s) of an image. The use of negative space, as a balance to the subject(s), gives the viewer’s eye a place to rest and is an important element to the overall composition of an image."

It also creates stunning, powerful images like the ones shown above from the Shutter Sisters Flickr pool.

When we shift focus, mindfully crafting the composition of our shots, we are given the opportunity to find a new harmony, and to fully reinvent them. Today slow down and pay more attention to the space and energy around your subjects. You might be surprised.

Comments

[Chelsea C]

I love shots like this, and all the above you posted are so wonderful! The ones I have taken seem to all be sky shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chelscham/4854919547/in/set-72157624448833873/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chelscham/4851669693/in/set-72157624448833873/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chelscham/4953465896/in/set-72157624448833873/

[Angela DiGiovanni | life * poetry * art]

Thanks for this lesson. I'm such a 'close up' photographer, and forget how beautiful and telling negative space can be. I'm going to stretch myself this week using negative space and see what I can create!

[Kat]

I often get close in too. But you are right, it's wonderful to have space to breathe in a photo once in a while. I will try to remember this more often!
http://www.kateyeview.com/2010/11/if-you-do-what-youve-always-done-you.html

[*amanda*]

These are six of the most interesting photos ever! I was captivated by all of them, and the collage is entriguing. It's also 5 am, and I'm up eyein' blogs... ;)
...great post.

[Marcie]

Oh..I'm a big fan of negative space - whether it be positive (white) or negative (black). Here are a few recent examples:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1419
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1409
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1408
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1407

[CDScott]

Great collage of images. I love to play with negative space. Here are some of mine...

http://cdscottphoto.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-hate-to-be-negative.html

[Jennifée]

Oh, what a marvellous set of images - thanks for sharing these!

I live high up on a hill, so shooting landscapes with lots of sky and a very low horizon is an obvious move:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/5273737444/

I haven't really been considering negative space in other types of images, however, but thank you for the encouragement to do so :)

[Jen at Cabin Fever]

I am a big fan of negative space. Especially when you want to put an emphasis on your subject of solidarity or something similar. Its a great artistic composition.

http://www.only365words.blogspot.com

http://www.cabinfeververmont.com

[Puna]

Speaking of seeing things in a different light. . .

http://visionandverb.com/2011/01/in-the-eyes-of-the-beholder/

[Sarah]

Thanks so much for including my shot. And for the tips!

[urban muser]

beautiful shots. and "space" is my one little word for 2011!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52504401@N03/5334482178/

[Jeanette Verster]

What gorgeous images!

[Audra Van Vliet]

I love simplistic photos. Negative space is my favorite tool.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellsbellarina/5162594310/

[froddard]

I've often filled my frame with a lot of detail, with distinct lines telling you where your eye should go.

In this picture, the soft impressions of the feet in the 'negative space' of the sand give you options of where to look - a little more freedom: http://www.flickr.com/photos/97309340@N00/5339422854/

[kristin]

one form my archives.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/4683321643/

but maybe a little more space is just what i need to find today....

[Doris]

Great examples of Negative Space! Here's a few of mine:

http://dorisrudddesigns.wordpress.com/2010/07/08/july-5-2010/
http://dorisrudddesigns.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/35-365/
http://dorisrudddesigns.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/october-20-2010-2/

[S Meckfessel]

The less-than-obvious approach: when focusing on the negative is a good thing.
I find relief in the space.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58066769@N05/5339642708/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58066769@N05/5339642208/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58066769@N05/5339641938/in/photostream/

[Stephanie]

While skimming through my Flickr photostream, I realized I usually try to fill the whole frame and I don't play much with negative space. It's such a beautiful and uncomplicated way to balance a photo and draw the eye to the subject. Thanks for the reminder! I'm definitely going to incorporate it into more of my work. This is the closest my photos come to negative space: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephaniecourt/4816357401/

[joey]

Here's mine http://www.flickr.com/photos/19379573@N06/5339837144/

[Texan Mama]

hmm wow, this seems like such a simple thing to learn, and yet, I think negative space is not as simple as it may look. Negative space, for it to be effective and to add something to the photograph, needs to be just right.

Plus, I am just still so stuck in taking pictures that are perfectly centered. I need to work on that.

Here's one of my daughter on the merry-go-round at the park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/texanmama/5332358892/

[Ali]

I love these images.

[xanthe]

i love a bit of negative space. "finding space" this weekend. x.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/5340562372/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/5340659242/

[Kimberly]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/junebugphotography/5334554227/

Sometimes space is necessary to focus on what is beautiful in a landscape of not so beautiful.

[claudia]

all great shots of negative space use! sometimes I'm tempted to write something in my negative space, like it's begging me to say something?! other times I just leave it alone.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/5341069946/

[Kathleen O.]

Lovely shots! Here's my attempt at s p a c e in my photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/5340370223/in/photostream/

[Deanna]

Here is one this afternoon I took with negative space in mind.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djinjoe/5341225680/

[anna beth]

gorgeous photos! i love playing with the amount and position of negative space in photos. i took this shot about a week ago:

http://helloannabeth.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dsc_0638.jpg

[Diane]

I'm big on using negative space:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27458974@N00/4402055130/

I tend not to post many on Flickr, however. Most are reserved for my clients or my photo blog. I hope you like this one anyway.

[Line]

cool!!

[Mira]

oh yes! I love space, how it leaves room for a deep breath. To be touched, moved by poetry in light or shadows.

This taken just last week, has been lingering in my minds eye. Happy to have an opening to share it here:

http://thislovelymoment.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/golden-girl/

[babyjidesign]

one of my favorites
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7497846@N06/4514656401/in/set-72157623822599276/

[Ingrid]

A couple from my archives...

http://indigo2087.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-time.html
http://indigo2087.blogspot.com/2010/11/channelling-my-inner-annie-leibovitz.html

[Marty Mason]

I often take a picture of just part of an object! Didn't realize it creating negative space. Here's a favorite of mine - part of a coldwater creek shopping bag. http://reflectionsunfurling.blogspot.com/2011/01/negative-space.html

[Beth]

I typically fill my frame but I had negative space in mind with this shot in particular!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14632491@N07/5328993694/

[jag]

Yes, I too love negative space. It hadn't occured to me that this one instance where focusing on the negative is a GOOD thing! :-) Here are a few shots that are positively negative:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/2769633732/in/set-72157606769833070/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/2769634642/in/set-72157606769833070/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/3294182278/in/set-72157606772577757/

xox

[Brooke]

I just took a great one last week to kick off my weekly challenge. I do like how the negative space draws your eye directly to the focus you wanted.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterboo502/5311100526/

[Diane]

Thought I'd come back since I grabbed one of my negative space photos and posted it on Flickr. Enjoy:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27458974@N00/5343446072/

[melissa]

love how you do this with your photography, irene. it feels expansive. my hearts opens, breathing in your images. inspired to try capturing the space and energy around the moment. thank you.

[Sara]

I must have carried these words with me when I went out shooting Sunday.
http://wandercraft.blogspot.com/2011/01/natural-detroit-1.html

[Jet Harrington]

I also love negative space, and I am eager to wind my way through all the links here. I am eager to experiment with brighter shots, lighter shots, more like the sample grid you shared here - not blown-out necessarily, but on the light end of the colour spectrum. That would be more of a stretch for me. Here are some of my favourites for the theme:

http://scatterbeams.aminus3.com/image/2010-10-09.html
http://scatterbeams.aminus3.com/image/2009-09-09.html
http://scatterbeams.aminus3.com/image/2009-04-30.html
http://scatterbeams.aminus3.com/image/2009-10-22.html
http://scatterbeams.aminus3.com/image/2009-03-23.html