Week four in the #EsterCobe52 has me feeling SOOO good about this project. It is forcing me to really spend time documenting our lives and forcing me to be creative at home and it feels so good!

So what is Negative Space?

It is your subject with tons of space around them in the photograph. If you search “Negative Space” in art or design you will see this is a commonly used technique in art. Positive space is your subject or focus in the image and the negative space is the background. These images feel super focused to me and yet my eye feels at ease looking at them. Typically the negative space takes up more of the image space which has the effect of making the subject/focus more noticeable.

How do I do Negative Space in my images ?

I always start with a space that is non distracting. I go for bare walls or walls that have a pattern that isn’t too eye catching. When I need to delete part of the room I close the door or hide behind a wall and use that as a tool to remove clutter or other distractions from the scene.

Next, I am looking at my composition. Using the grid on your camera will help you to position your subject in a mathematically pleasing space. Think Rule of Thirds.

See images below with some explanation. And please, ask questions if you have them! I can’t wait to see your EsterCobe52 Week 4 // Negative Space images!

Love, Negative Space // Week 4 #EsterCobe52

Taken with my 5D Mark iv at iso 2500 with a 24mm lens at f/1.6 and 1/250s. My sweet son loves brining me lego creations especially while I work. This gem was something he made last week and while pondering what minimalist photograph I could take this idea came to mind. It documents his love of creating lego art and a sweet sentiment that is just perfect because in the words of the great Beatles, All You Need is LOVE!

The below image has LOTS of background with just the most important part of my subject. This is a sweet image of my sweet Fin. I do these simple portraits of them a few times a year and just love the focus of their face and expression. Again, this is taken with my 5d Mark iv and a 35mm lens at iso100, f/2 and 1/200s.

In this image (that I also shared in the water week), my boys and myself in the image with TONS of space surrounding us. This is a great example of using negative space in photography. It was taken at iso 200, f/3.2, at 1/500s at sunset.

For this image I am leaning over a puddle and shooting a selfie of myself. It is devoid of color for the most part and really does have a lot of negative space in the image. Even my portrait is mostly negative space. For me, this is the best example of artistic negative space. This image was taken with my Canon EOS R mirrorless camera at iso 200 with a 35mm prime lens at f/1.8 and 1/640s.

Again, another image with the use of negative space. This image wasn’t planned out but like most of my photographs, it just happened. I looked, I saw and snapped a shot. Lots more examples below for negative space images.

Want to join in on our photography challenge and grow in your skills while you document your year? Look back at my #EsterCobe52 weekly challenges! Week 1 // Week 2 // Week 3

Happy snapping!

• 
  EsterCobe52 Week 45 // Self Portrait
• 
  EsterCobe52 Week 44 // Spring
• 
  EsterCobe52 Week 43 // Equinox
• 
  EsterCobe52 Week 42 // Daylight
• 
  EsterCobe52 Week 41 // Outdoors
• 
  EsterCobe52 Week 40 // Works of Art