Space
Space refers to the emptiness or area between, around, above, below, or within objects.
Space is all of the area that is filled up in a composition. Space includes the foreground, background and middle ground in an image
The space of an image is all made up of both positive space and negative space.
1. Positive Space—areas occupied by the shapes or object of interest
2. Negative Space—empty/non-emphasized space between shapes or objects of interest
Negative Space is the technique of using elements of low impact to contrast and bring more emphasis and attention to your subject in a picture, it also allows you to bring more emphasis to your subject while at the same time permit your subject to remain relatively smaller overall in the image….
Negative Space usually isn’t a flat color, or an empty space of nothing. Its just needs to be contrast to the high impact nature of the subject. This could be a flat color, or an area of low contrast, low theme value, low texture, subtle gradient, or the area of lens blur (called the bokah)
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Notice the use of positive space here with how the trees fill up the entire composition...there is almost no negative space in this images except the snow on the ground in the foreground separating the tree trunks (1)
Our concept of space makes all of our photographic images “have a feeling” to them, similar to how we exist as human beings:
-- If we don’t get a balance of space and activity, we can feel claustrophobic.
-- Or, if we have no balance because things are too open with no closure, we might feel lost or overwhelmed.
-- Or, if all of something is not included in an image, we might feel cut off.
-- Or if something is too big and too close to us, we might feel like it is in our face too much, invading our personal space...
This concept works in visual composition in much the same way: Having the correct balance of high and low impact activity (positive and negative space) can emphasize the subject in the photograph as well as give a natural and calming desire to the viewer.
Space of a photograph is divided into three sections: foreground, middle ground, and background. Artists use their awareness of these sections to help give their work depth.
1. Foreground—objects are closer, larger, often more in detail In a picture, objects low or directly in front of us are perceived as closest to us and are in the foreground. They are larger, clearer, and brighter than those “behind” them. They are often at the bottom of the composition frame (but not always)
2. Middle Ground—objects overlap between foreground and background. Objects at a medium distance are perceived as mid-ground; they are in the middle of the composition frame.
3. Background—objects are distant, smaller, less detailed Objects farthest from us, in the background, they seem less clear, and their colors are less intense than those in both the foreground and middle ground. The are usually higher up in the composition frame, often at the top (but not always)
“Compressing Space”—shrinking your foreground in an image by zooming in closer to your background...this make things very far away in the background seem BIGGER in the image
The "Rule of Space" is simply a technique that creates a sense of motion, activity or conclusion in your composition. It simply involves creating space filled with your subject balanced properly from foreground into the background with negative space that supports your composition
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For example, if you place negative space outside your subjects head in a portrait, you imply maybe there is thought going on – particularly if you direct your subject’s eyes toward the negative space.
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Or if you have a picture of a motorcycle zooming across the desert. Placing the negative space in front of the motorcycle creates a sense of direction or implication of eventual destination.
Notice the use of negative space here with the night sky and the ocean and open beach...this helps to draw your eyes to the subject of the pier ruins, and thus adding emphasis to the subject (1)
Notice the use of negative space here with the plain gray sky... this helps to draw your eyes to the subject of the lighthouse with the "ghost" person in front of it (2)
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Notice the use of positive space here with..,this image has almost all positive space and excellent use of the pathway as a leading line taking you through the foreground, into the middle ground, and all the way to the background...(2)
Notice the use of positive space here with..,most of this entire image has positive space with the river taking you from foreground, into middle ground, into background...(similar to pic of bamboo forest directly above) (3)
This image uses the foreground expertly...notice how the composition has a background (stars), and a foreground (sunflower), but no true middle ground to connect the foreground to the background. This makes the sunflower appear to be more floating in the image…the middle ground here becomes negative space by being blurred into a bokeh (done by shooting the flower separately with a large aperture at f/2.8). The stars were also captured in another image at f/2.8, then the two images were merged together into one composition (1)
Notice the use of foreground here.,.the doggie, the subject of the image, is in the foreground, with the middle ground and background becoming negative space, adding extra emphasis to the subject of this picture: this doggie (2)
This has excellent use of middle ground in this image, with the subject of the picture being in the middle ground (the pier)...the foreground is the wet sand, with the middle ground connecting it to the background of the sun rising in the morning sky...the connection of the foreground to the background is actually created by the subject itself, as the pier creates a pathway between the two...the foreground and the background both become negative space in this image (1)
This also has excellent use of middle ground in this image, with the subject of the picture being in the middle ground (the birds on the pier pylons)...the foreground is the reflection of the birdies in the blue water, with the middle ground connecting it to the background of tropical clouds in the morning sky...the connection of the foreground to the background is actually created by the subject itself, as the birdies and their reflections in the foreground create a pathway between the two...and as a result, the foreground and the background both become negative space in this image (2)
There's excellent use of background in this image to bring the sun into the image closer, and bigger by using the technique of compressing space...Compressing space is shrinking your middle ground in an image by zooming in closer to your background...this make things very far away seem BIGGER in the image…you zoom-in by increasing your focal length (like 200mm at f/11 pictured here) to “compress” the space between you & your subject. RESULT HERE: The sun seems bigger over the sea well, as the space (the middle ground) between both got “compressed” (1)
There's excellent use of background in this image with the use of the rainbow in the sky to act as a leading line bringing your eyes directly to the subject of the image, as well as add extra emphasis to the subject, the Moai Statue with its glowing white eyes (2)
To add interest and mystery to the image, the viewer is curious what the doggie is looking at in the canyon below...and to obey the Rule of Space, the doggie is looking into the full length of the image, not looking out of the picture to his left, but instead pointing inward and the the right in the image...this makes the composition stronger because a viewer is curious and thus interest and mystery is added as they wonder what the doggie is looking at in the composition (it was actually an small inflatable boat with a put-putting motor echoing in the canyon below that got the doggie's attention & made him look over the edge which drops 200ft to the bottom below...) (1)
EXTRA BONUS PICTURE: This is a classical landscape photographic composition, very effectively balanced with all its elements in positive space and negative space...with a strong use of foreground and leading lines taking your eyes from the foreground into and through the middle ground, to the subject of the ridge of rocks, with the background of stars adding color and negative space to further accent and emphasize the subject in the middle ground of the image (background also has a secondary leading line of the bright and colorful Milky Way pointing directly to the rock rodge in the middle)...The subject of the image is turned inward from both the left and the right to the dip in the middle of the ridgeline, demonstrating an effective use of the "rule of space" (1)
EXTRA BONUS PICTURE: This is a classical landscape photographic composition, very effectively balanced with all its elements in positive space and negative space...with a strong use of foreground and leading lines taking your eyes from the foreground into and through the middle ground, to the subject of the tree in the dip at the top of the hill, with the background adding color and negative space to further accent and emphasize the subject in the middle ground of the image (background also has a secondary leading line of bright light created by the colorful Milky Way pointing to the tree as well)...The subject of the image, the tree, is turned inward from the left to the right leaning into the center of the composition, demonstrating an effective use of the "rule of space" (2)
