Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Turning A Negative Into A Positive

Last year I discovered minimalist, or negative space photography. Inspired by a photographer on Flickr, Yannick LeFevre, I experimented with a crow grackle that landed menacingly on my fence. I received some positive feedback after posting it on Flickr, then promptly forgot about it--until today when Brian King posted his Out on a Limb shot. Hello, again! Thanks, Brian for the reminder. Sometimes I'm so intent on filling my frame with the subject that I forget how peaceful and soothing negative space can be. This is one way to actually turn a negative into a positive! DPS has some wonderful articles on this style. Have any of you tried it? What are your thoughts? And hey, if you think it's boring, that's okay, too! 






38 comments:

  1. Fantastic shot Gail. Really superb composition; I just love it. How could you possibly forget about this one? :)

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  2. I've taken some with negative space but not in awhile. Your photos make me want to try again! I think your textures really add a more artistic touch. Beautiful!

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  3. Hi..great bird pic. Thanks for coming by. Please come see me, too. Loving the textures created.

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  4. I like it. Nice to have something different.

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  5. something happened to your blog background today.

    and that's a grackle, not a crow :)

    but i like it a LOT!!!

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  6. I love negative space, and you do it so well!

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  7. These are great, negative space really adds to the shots.

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  8. What great shots of the grackle. We have a lot of them here. It's funny, I was just talking with another blogger about trying to work with more negative space. Going to click on over to those articles. Thanks!!!

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  9. I have no idea how you would do this! You're so talented!

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  10. I like it!

    As a graphic designer, we learned all about negative space and how to use it. I never thought to use in my photos. I'll have to give it a try.

    Thanks for sharing. Those are really cool pics!

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  11. I love the pose in the first shot.

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  12. I'm not sure I'd have thought to shoot a photo like this, but it works. Somehow, the negative space adds a little drama to the image.

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  13. love it love it!

    i lurrrve textures and worn looking things. i love simplicity too and i'm starting to go that direction with my photos too.

    love it. miss you!

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  14. I simply cannot get over the menacing look of a grackle! Your negative-space images are fabulous, and that texture is perfect. These are wonderful photos, Gail.

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  15. I love me some negative space...I don't do it very often, but I find it most appealing. Yours is terrific and I find it interesting that I posted this http://www.flickr.com/photos/52098992@N06/7598255326/ on flickr today. Boy we must really be on the same wave-length.

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  16. first i loved your negative space photos. love the grackle, it looks like a raven to me. second i visited Shadowhouse Creations, loved it too.

    negative space is a new concept for me. i like the concept. less is more. allow the space to speak, or be silent.

    photography is new to me. i have always love to record life, my kids, and grandchildren. traveling has opened a new door, and free photo editing is a dream come true.

    i'm wishing for photoshop or another good program for my birthday. i'm researching software programs now.

    thank you for all the wonder sharing! 104 here today, eek.

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  17. first i loved your negative space photos. love the grackle, it looks like a raven to me. second i visited Shadowhouse Creations, loved it too.

    negative space is a new concept for me. i like the concept. less is more. allow the space to speak, or be silent.

    photography is new to me. i have always love to record life, my kids, and grandchildren. traveling has opened a new door, and free photo editing is a dream come true.

    i'm wishing for photoshop or another good program for my birthday. i'm researching software programs now.

    thank you for all the wonder sharing! 104 here today, eek.

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  18. Loved the shots! My first visit to your blog and I found it to be quite interesting.
    Wish you a wonderful week:)
    My Yatra Diary...

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  19. We are pre-coccupied with experiments everyday.

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  20. These are great Gail. The first is particularly eye-catching due to the crow's stance. Love the way you have edited these. I haven't looked into negative space photography but think I'll experiment, it can be very effective.

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  21. Excellent shots! The bird's posture in the first photo is so strange, it really makes for an interesting photo. And great use of texture also!

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  22. Hi Gail, I love negative space and I love these shots. Really wonderful!

    I'm not the greatest with negative space. I have to work at it. But I think it's very effective when done well, as in your shots here.

    xo

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  23. Your photos are fantastic, Gail! I love the crouching pose! Nice texture, too! Great job with the negative space. Thank you so much for the kind mention and link! Not necessary at all, but I appreciate it!

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  24. It's good at times to see the subject in its environment. I like these Gail.

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  25. Hi there - very nice picture. Just as I hoped, not all the bird images on the new WBW have to look like shots from field guides.

    I like these pictures very much.

    Stewart M - Australia

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  26. Both are excellent! You chose the perfect texture. I just love them! I guess I focus on filling my frame too. DPS is a great source of information and inspiration.

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  27. Not boring at all. I love it..

    Hugs~

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  28. I love it! I'd never given negative space much thought before now.

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  29. That is outstanding, I do like all that space. It does go aganist how I have een raised that all spaces need stuff. But over the years I have learned, not so.

    Your crow photo is perfect and should be framed.

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  30. I think the negative space speaks volumes, especially with the texturing! Very nice!

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  31. Yep, we were both definitely on the same wavelength yesterday. Too funny!

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  32. i'm a negative space LOVER and i love these shots !

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  33. Oh My Goodness girl....I love your work!! If I lived closer to you, I'd hire you to teach me your techniques!!
    Beautiful pictures...I'd buy these in a new york second! (if I could afford em')
    hugs...

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  34. Oh, what lovely shots. The space is soothing while leading the eye to the subject. Sometimes less really is more.

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  35. What interesting compositions, well done they are great.

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  36. Ok, now, this is the 1st i'm seeing of it & i really like it... esp w/ the texture, it's great =)

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  37. I believe I tend to go the other way -- and use negative space too much. *sigh* Love this shot though and Brian is such a fantastic photographer and sharing blogger.

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