The Ultimate Guide to Using Negative Space in Compositions

Do you want to produce amazing compositions? Negative space is an essential part of photographic composition. And you can use it to create stunning photos.

In this article, you’ll discover everything you need to know about negative space. And you’ll learn how to use it to take consistently gorgeous photos.

Let’s get started.

What is Negative Space?

Negative space (AKA white space) is the empty space around your subject.

Typically, empty space is very simple: either solid colors or blurred backgrounds. It’s the kind of emptiness you find in white skies and empty stretches of sand.

Let’s look at how you can use it in your photos to level up your photography.

Why Use Negative Space?

Negative space will help you capture stunning images. But why are we so drawn to it?

There are three main reasons why we use space in photo composition. We use it to:

• Emphasize the subject
• Express movement
• Accentuate scale

I explore these in more detail below, starting with:

Emphasize the Subject

The main reason that negative space is used in photography?

To emphasize the subject.

By creating extra space around your subject, you draw the eye directly to the subject itself.

Often, you can use a clear sky or a clean wall to create that empty space. However, when your background is busy, blurring your background with a soft bokeh effect is ideal.

Now, to keep the composition from feeling stagnant, it’s a good idea to create leading lines to your subject or place your subject off-center. Check out some samples of this tactic below.

Notice how the empty space around the main subject causes your eye to move straight to the subject:

This technique is extremely effective.

So if you find a striking subject, surround it with empty space.

You’ll capture a more powerful photo overall.

Express Movement

Let’s get straight to it.

Negative space is fantastic for creating a sense of motion in a scene.

There are two ways to do this:

• Blur the background with motion
• Accentuate a subject caught mid-movement.

To create space with blurred movement, you’ll want to pan the camera to follow your moving subject.

You’ll get a beautifully blurred background–one full of empty space.

Next, to accentuate a subject in mid-movement:

Take note of the direction in which your subject is moving.

And then put a lot of space in front of your subject–so that they seem to be moving into the emptiness.

This will give your shot a sense of motion.

Accentuate Scale

Negative space is also ideal for accentuating scale.

Consider those moments when you go for a hike along a grand open space. Or the way people look so tiny in a city when viewed from above. Doesn’t the empty space make the place feel huge?

Here’s what I suggest:

Find a huge stretch of space. And include this in your photo.

But make sure you put your main subject off-center–so that the space seems even more vast.

For instance, look at the negative space created by the dunes below. The photographer put the subject toward the bottom of the frame–so the space becomes especially powerful.

Now that you’ve learned these tips for stunning photos, you’re a better photographer.

Guaranteed.

But the fact is, the journey doesn’t stop there. There are more tips, tricks, and secrets–all of which will help you take gorgeous photos.

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