Negative Space – Digital Photography Tip of the Week

I talked last week about using focus lock to ensure your subject was in focus while still maintaining control over your composition. This week I will discuss using negative space in your photographs.

Negative space is the space around your subjects in your photographs. The space of nothingness in your photographs is just as important as the space that is taken up with your subject. Negative space provides balance in a photograph and also provides a place for your eyes to rest. Studying and including the negative space in your composition can help strengthen the composition and add more emphasis to your main subject. Consider each of the following images and how the use of negative space adds to the image.(Click on each image to view a full sized version of the image.)

As you can see, It is not always necessary to fill your frame when composing a photograph. Incorporating negative space in your photographs can add stability to your photographs while helping to define the subject within your image.

Until next week, happy shooting.

The digital photography tip of the week is written by the PCIN Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Chris is a long time photographer and is currently the President of the Niagara Falls Camera Club. You can see more of his photography at his Photo of the Day website.
If you have a tip to send Chris, or a question about digital photography he can address in the newsletter, send it to chris@pcin.net.

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