Negative space refers to the real estate within a photograph that is not occupied by the subject. Similar to music, emptiness can be just as powerful as business when juxtaposed against an interesting subject. The turtle above is the subject of the photograph above, which contains little else of interest. This phenomenon draws attention toward the turtle. Similarly, the kangaroo below is alone in the frame, causing its presence to be further accentuated.
TipsPhotographs with little to look at beyond the subject are often visually interesting as a result of tasteful negative space, no matter how mundane the subject matter.
Negative space doesn't need to be completely empty. The water around the turtle above contains leaves, and the dirt around the kangaroo contains rocks.
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