Lens-Artists Challenge 114 – Negative Space
“Like a tree that grows stronger with more branches and roots, you need to find more and more ways to be inspired.”
Yiannis Kouros
This week Amy challenges us to illustrate the photographic concept of “negative space”. Typically I am much more prone to “fill the frame” but agree that negative space is quite a powerful photographic tool. In addition to making a capture that emphasizes a primary subject, we can also create the effect in post processing. My opening image is an example of that concept. The original image was a rather boring one. By concentrating on the negative space and using a bit of creativity, I was able to achieve a better result. I much prefer the final, edited version for its simplicity and abstract quality.
“Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings.”
Victor Hugo
So too, the capture above. Once again, the final result was not my original concept. As we evaluate the results of our efforts in photography sometimes we need to look beyond what the camera has captured to see the potential of an image. In this case, the conversion to B&W combined with isolating the subject using negative space, resulted in a much-improved image.
“No race can prosper until it learns there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.”
Booker T. Washington
Unlike my first two images, negative space was an important part of my intent on the Palouse image above. One of the most captivating aspects of the area is the wide expanse of farmland in every direction. While the small, rather run-down farm was key to the image, I also wanted to show its relationship to the land around it. The dramatic contours of the negative space helped me to create the feeling I wanted to capture in the image.
“For one moment, quit being sad. Hear blessings dropping their blossoms around you.”
Rumi
In the image above the two adorable little calves are surrounded by beautiful flowers. However they are clearly the subject of the capture with the flowers playing a secondary role. As such it represents the concept of negative space not as empty per se, but rather as complimentary to the primary focus of the capture.
“Look at a tree, a plant. How still they are, how deeply rooted in being. Allow nature to teach you stillness.”
Eckhart Tolle
Sometimes negative space is intuitive as we compose our images, other times it appears as we process our results. Shining a light on its power will hopefully help us all to become more creative. Thanks to Amy for challenging us to focus on the concept, helping us to move further forward in our efforts as photographers and artists.
We look forward to seeing your responses to Amy’s challenge. Please remember to link them to her original post here, and to use the Lens-Artists TAG to have them appear in our WP Reader section. As always, we thank you for your support and participation and hope you’ll join us next week as we present Challenge #115 here on Travels and Trifles. Until then, have a wonderful week and please remember to stay safe out there.
Really great content !
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed sisters!
Of course 😍 happy to connect 😊
stunning images, Tina. i love how you explained the composition of the images. all of them are beautiful especially The Palouse! thank you! 🙂
Thanks very much Wilma, I enjoyed this one.
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Enjoyed your post, as always, especially Wide Open Spaces and your header (very creative!) Like you, I tend to want to fill the frame so it was nice to take a step back and look at our photos in a different light. 😊
Thanks Sylvia – I agree about the step back. A nice challenge this week.
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Beautiful examples of using negative space Tina. I tend to use the sky a lot to illustrate this concept, but your photos of the calves have made me think.
Thanks Jude. Skies are wonderful negative space but sometimes a secondary element also works. If I made you think about it I’ll consider that a win 😊
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Thanks for the chuckle this morning, Tina. The cows look like they are questioning what going on.
Their faces are delightfully cute. Your selections are awesome. The first is magical. I could see that
one on the cover of a poetry book. The wide-open field photo is unique for me to see. We have green, green, green all the time.
It’s refreshing to see another perspective on the landscape. Five-star photos this week, Have a wonderful week … Be Safe
Izzy 😎
What a lovely comment Izzy, much appreciated! A wonderful and safe week to you too.
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Especially like those wide open spaces!
Very nice images for this weeks challenging and fun theme. The first photo is like a piece of art, yet simple but maybe that’s why I like it. The WIDE OPEN SPACES is amazing, lovely soft colors and a fantastic scenery while the calves are so delightful!
Thanks very much Anita – I think you’re right, it’s the simplicity that makes the opener this week. Appreciate your visit and comment
Great images, Tina 👏 Your shot of The Palouse captures the scale of vista perfectly 😃
Thanks Jez, glad you appreciated that one.
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Negative space can be a very effective element in a composition, as you photos show. I love the opening photo of the branches.
Thanks very much Otto, great to hear from you.
You always do beautiful posts but for me this one is especially special.. I love these images!
What a lovely way to start my day Ms Liz. Many thanks!
All beautiful – the silhouette is very special!
Many thanks Nora
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You never cease to amaze me…. what a creative wonder ….. Palouse outstanding…
Thanks GF – you are most kind.
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Hi Tina
The Hugo quote was a top takeaway – I have heard it before by the way it was inserted
into the post was nice.
I also agree with the way negative space can
complement aspects and like how you provided Examples and mini lessons –
My favorite Photo is the branches
Thanks Yvette – yes I loved that quote too. Glad you liked branches. Definitely a labor of love on that one 🙂
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The beaches one also has a Japanese board painting kind of vibe –
Hi Tina
Im torn between the branches, silhouette and sweet rass images. They each evoke a different mood. All lovely.
Here’s my submission. It’s a variation on your theme
https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/2020/09/13/beautiful-great-blue-herons-the-eyes-have-it-quirky-artist-stories-nbr-17/
Best, Babsje
Thanks very much Babsje, off to see your take !
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You’re welcome. As always thanks for the way you and the Lens Artists keep the inspiration coming. Best Babsje
Pingback: Beautiful Great Blue Herons – The Eyes Have It (Quirky Artist Stories Nbr 17) | Babsje Heron
Wonderful collection:)
Thanks MM!
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Seems like I have plenty of “negative space” images in my archives without thinking about it. 🙂
Love that sweetgrass image.
Forgot to add your header image has that vintage feel, something perhaps taken in the 1920s or earlier.
Thanks David – worked hard on that one 🙂.
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Tina, the first two of my favorites for this challenge.
Thanks Sally. Creative editing 🙂
hi tina, wonderful idea and pictures you found, i like them very much especially the 1st and 2nd picture
best regards robert
Thanks Robert, glad you enjoyed those
A great variety of images for the challenge Tina and there are so many ways to play with negative space. I especially love your photo of the two calves 🧡
Thanks very much Xenia. They were very sweet
The one of the sweetgrass was my favorite. I kind of think of it a muse for you, just as my juniper trees are for me. 🙂
It is indeed Siobhan. Unfortunately it blooms only for 3 or 4 weeks each year. Perhaps part of the reason I love it 🙂
Dear Tina Hope you are well Wow elegant and graceful- and so are the images unique striking and beautiful
🙂 Thank you AWD!
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welcome
Amazing images, as usual, Tina! The Palouse made me come back to it several times – the skies are awesome, and the colours. I also very much love the branches – would love to hang that one on my wall. Excellent all.
Thanks so much Ann-Christine. The Palouse is a very special area of the US which for most of us is quite out of the way. We were very fortunate to have passed through on our way to wine country. The branches were a result of a very special class I had with top-100 Female photographer Joyce Tennyson who taught us to see beyond the obvious.
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Oh, that must have been very interesting – having good teachers is the best thing!
Agree wholeheartedly!
Amazing photos for negative space, Tina.
Thanks very much Teresa.
Stunning photos for this prompt Tina! especially the first one!
Thanks Aletta, glad that one reached out to you.
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Oh, my gosh! That Palouse image is fantabulous! It is a pictorial definition of “wide open spaces.”
LOL, may be the first time I’ve earned the fantabulous description John! Many thanks 😊
Lovely clicks. Silhoutte the best
Thanks, glad you appreciated that one
Nice post, Tina. The Palouse image fascinates me. The longer I look at it, the more I see.
Thanks Jane, much appreciated from your artist’s eye
Love that one of the landscape with those shades of brown and beige. 🙂 🙂 Have a great week, Tina!
Many thanks Jo – it’s a beautiful part of the country
Loved the Branches one, just like poetry.
Thanks Photographias, I enjoyed the artistic exercise on that one.
Great photos!
I love the Silhouette and the Sweetgrass. 🙂
Thanks very much Ana. Two very different approaches to post-processing
The images highlight the creativity involved
Thanks Teresa, much appreciated
These striking images really highlight the power of negative space. Lovely!
Thanks Margaret, glad you enjoyed
This is a tough challenge no doubt and your photos are as lovely as expected . The opening photo was arresting and so was the sweet grass one. Beautiful clicks, Tina.
Thank you Sheetal – I agree this one really WAS a challenge!
I wondered about the application of the concept of negative space as you used it with the calves. I’m not sure if I feel it truly is negative space, but I understand the interpretation. I especially like that first edit. It’s very Zen-like in its feel.
janet
Thanks Janet – I know what you mean about the calves as the flowers might also draw attention. I’m glad it made you think; me too!
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Your photos are so painterly and diverse. Good work.
Many thanks Judy, much appreciated.
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed these.
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Branches and sweet grass excellent. Bird exceptionally excellent
Many thanks Paulie – had to work a bit on this one!
Beautiful images. I especially like the first one–stunning!
Thank you Anne, happy that one caught your eye
Gorgeous photos, Tina. I appreciated the tutorial, too. It helps my search for photos to post for this challenge. BTW, I took the liberty of using your fabulous leopard picture as the inspiration for my post, Cinquain Poetry: Audacious Photography, today, credited to you, of course. I hope you don’t mind.
Hah – mind?? Of course not. I’m honored. thanks Marsha.
LOL
Having lived on a small farm near Pullman, WA, your Palouse photos always pull my heartstrings!
Sorry I was unable to participate last week, just too much happening with the fires and hazardous air conditions here – but I’ll be back!
So frightening Lindy – be safe and stay indoors if you can. thanks so much for checking in.
Very interesting challenge and this is something I have not given thought to previously. Your photos are marvelous. I love the wide open spaces. Beautiful! and the two calves are so appealing.
Thanks so much Anne, glad you enjoyed. It’s a really interesting challenge I think. I’ve seen images you’ve used before that show you use the technique, even if unconsciously. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.
Wow. Beautiful photos Tina. Love the ‘modifications’ as well as the ‘naturals’. Well done.
Thanks John, appreciate it!
I can’t decide on a favorite they are all nice
Thanks very much Alice
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Beautiful!
Thanks very much Lily
Great use of negative space Tina. Love the silhouette and grass seeds 😀
Thanks Brian – an interesting topic this week. Hope you’ll join us!
I shall when I have the chance Tina
Lovely set, Tina. The Palouse is my favorite. Breathtaking!
Thanks very much Susan – beautiful out there. Wish we’d had more time.
These are beautiful negative space images, Tina. the Palouse image is just breathtaking… I scrolled up and down several times, really enjoy this series. I feel I have learned so much about negative space in photography here from you. 🙂
You are very kind Amy, much appreciated. I enjoyed your challenge as its made me think about images in a different way.
Terrific examples of negative space, Tina. You really highlighted a variety of images where negative space really has an impact. The Palouse image and those adorable calves are my favorites this week!
Many thanks Patti – a fun and interesting challenge. Looking forward to seeing the responses.
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Those two little cows are show stoppers .
They were pretty adorable, thank you
Really loved “Branches” and Sweet Grass To Be”! And…the contrast of the sky against the farmland…Always look forward to your wonderful creativity, Tina!
Thanks so much Laurel, much appreciated as always