What is Negative Space?
Photo by Mimadeo via iStock
When you see an image like the one above in which there is a lot of empty space, you might wonder what the point of all that empty space might be.
But if you think about it, that empty space isn't just a blank blob in the frame - it's serving a purpose.
We'll get to the different purposes that negative space can serve in a moment, but first, we need to define negative space.
What is Negative Space?
Photo by wingmar via iStock
Negative space, or white space as some call it, is simply an area of an image that doesn't immediately attract your attention. Think of it as a supporting actor, where the primary subject is the star.
Negative space can be a foreground of a photo of a sandy beach on a tropical island, an overcast sky in the background of a picture of the Great Plains, or a solid-colored wall behind a person in a portrait.
In other words, negative space is something that is just there, that fades into the background of the shot.
This is in contrast to positive space - the thing that stands out in the shot and grabs your attention.
Photo by Jacob Ammentorp Lund via iStock
In a portrait, a person's face is positive space. In a landscape, positive space might be a mountain peak or a waterfall.
Positive space and negative space often work in harmony - as I'll discuss below, negative space can help make the subject of a photo stronger. But that doesn't mean that all photos have both positive and negative space. Instead, negative space is a tool that should only be applied in some instances to make the composition stronger. Let's explore a few examples of this.
Negative Space Helps Balance Positive Space
Photo by RyanJLane via iStock
Negative space and positive space can be used to balance one another out - too much of one or the other can make for an odd-looking composition.
For example, if there's too much positive space, the image can feel too busy and claustrophobic. If there's too much negative space, though, the image can feel empty and leave viewers wondering what the subject is.
Instead, strive to balance the two, like in the image above. The blue brick wall serves as a "blank" canvas on which the subject of the photo can stand out. But note that this negative space isn't just empty...the color and texture of the wall adds depth and interest to the shot without distracting from the positive space of the model's body.
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Negative Space Brings Attention to the Subject
Photo by Oleh_Slobodeniuk via iStock
Sometimes you need a vast empty space in an image to help bring attention to a subject. Such is the case in the image above.
In this instance, the two people are very, very small in the frame, so surrounding them with lots of negative space helps make the couple stand out more in the shot. Imagine if they were surrounded by landscape features with more colors, textures, and patterns. The couple would be lost in the shot.
Now, it's important to connect this use of negative space with the previous tip. While at first it might seem that the positive and negative space are out of whack in this shot, this actually isn't the case. Our eyes are naturally drawn to human figures, so even though the people in this shot are very small, they are still considered a strong subject. Using a lot of negative space around them only strengthens our ability to immediately see them, so the positive and negative spaces are well-balanced.
Negative Space Can Be Used to Create a Minimalist Shot
Another popular use of negative space is in creating a minimalist composition.
Negative space is an ideal tool for minimalist photos because minimalism is all about paring the image down to the bare bones. Having negative space in the shot that melts away to the background can really help you in mastering the art of minimalist compositions.
In the video above, I talk about how to use negative space in these kinds of photos. It's part of a larger discussion on minimalism and minimalist techniques.
Check it out and learn a thing or two about implementing negative space and other ways to create a minimalist image.
There are plenty of other ways that you can use negative space in your photos, but, for now, these three techniques will get you started. Good luck in using this newly learned technique to create captivating shots!
