Turning Negative Space Into A Positive Experience
Professional photographers use several methods to create photographs that stand out from the everyday snapshots of others. As a photographer, I’ve realized that some of these photographic principles work in everyday life, helping me see our world clearer and with improved perceptions.
I have a perfect example that only takes a few minutes to read through, and I believe it’s worth your time.
A few years ago, I woke before dawn so I could drive up to a remote location just to capture the picture I wanted. I had to arrive with the morning light to make this shot work.
The sun crept up slowly, bringing red hues as it edged its way in to pierce a heavy fog drifting across an open meadow. The slight chill in the air surrounded me with open space, and all I could hear was my own breathing and adding a misty vapor hanging with every exhale.
There is little I can compare to the empty sound of fog-muffled silence while sitting quietly in a chilly mist with wide-open space surrounding me.
This is what I love about taking pictures. The connection with the world I live in.
Just as the sun brought clarity to a dark shape in a large tree in the field, I heard a faint rustle of wet grass in the distance. Looking through the clearing haze, the image of a single doe materialized in my camera lens.
The deer, the fog, and the tree; all seemed to stand in perfect pose while I silently snapped pictures to capture the moment.
While composing this shot, two specific techniques helped bring out the story I wanted to tell. One is the rule of thirds. The other is negative space.
The rule of thirds divides the canvas precisely into nine equal boxes. Placing the subjects of a photo at the intersection of these imaginary lines makes the composition more accessible for the eyes to appreciate most times. Fibonacci also has an input here for the philosophers, but that’s not my point today. Maybe we’ll talk about it next time.
