Photography Composition Tips | Negative Space

© 2011 Wazari Wazir | Take a Break With Ice Cream | 50mm | f/1.8 | 1/640 | ISO 200

Basically Negative space is the space within a photograph which is left unused. Negative space is a great way to help add emphasis to your main subject. Negative space usually is an empty space, it is not an important part of the photograph and usually we don’t focus on that area and most of the times we leave the empty space out of focus or blur but nevertheless if we use it wisely it can have a profound impact to the photograph.

Actually there are three main component when it comes to photography composition :

• Frame – The Frame is the border around the image.
• Positive Space – The main subject in the border, this is where our camera is focused and this should be the sharpest within the frame.
• Negative Space – The rest of the image, located between the positive space and the frame or all around the main subject.

Photographers talk a lot about fills the frame for more impact but sometimes certain pictures needs a breathing space for more impact or simply to complement the shot. The negative space may not be the centre of attraction but nevertheless it help to make the picture much more stronger, for an example like the picture of my son above,by giving an empty space to the left side of him, I put an emphasize where my son is looking, a room to breath.

Since his eyes is looking on the left side of his shoulder, then it is only natural for me to give an extra space on the left side of the frame and it will look odd if I give an empty space on the right side of his shoulder.

This type of negative space also commonly use during sports photography, like race car or during running event where usually photographers will give a lot of empty space in front of the subject where they are heading for them to have a room to “move”. I know the image is static but it is just appropriate to give room or space in front of the moving subject rather than behind it.

There is a time when we need to get real close to the subject, to get it as tight as possible in the frame, fills the frame with the subject and there was also a time when we need to give some space to he subject. Just be remember that, in photography sometimes negative space have a lot of positive impact on the photograph.