How to Use Negative Space for Dynamic Photos on the Street (VIDEO)
Experienced landscape photographers understand the power of negative space when composing an expansive scene. This technique will also deliver dynamic urban imagery when shooting on the street, as you’ll see in this eye-opening tutorial from the folks at New Ways of Seeing.
As the name implies, this channel specializes in straightforward methods for capturing images that stand out from the crowd and enable you to create images that fall outside the same-old-same-old category. And that’s exactly what you’ll learn how to do in this seven-minute episode when it comes to unlocking the power of negative space when urban landscape photography is the name of the game.
Instructor Rupert Vandervell is a fine art street photographer who is very generous about sharing the secrets to his impressive portfolio. Today’s topic involves taking a fresh at your surroundings and understanding how to use large areas of empty space to simplify a scene and direct the viewer’s eye where you want it to go.
The first step is knowing how to identify the appropriate elements for this subset of minimalist photography. Only then can you choose the most appropriate camera settings and lens focal length for composing the shot accordingly. If you follow Vandervell’s simple instructions, compelling imagery is sure to follow.
Vandervell’s stunning photos provide all the inspiration you need to try your hand at this less-is-more technique. He explains the process like this: “You’re looking to not only reduce any distracting elements, but also to use negative space to bring attention to the main subject; namely, the positive space.”
You’ll also see examples of exceptional photos in this genre by notable British photojournalist Bill Brandt (born in Germany). In fact, Brandt’s stark imagery is what motivated Vandervell to take this eye-catching approach. We’re pretty sure that you’ll be tempted to do the same by the time this quick video concludes.
Vandervell’s popular YouTube channel is a great source of unique shooting tips and techniques, so make it a point to take a look at what he has available.
We also recommend watching a recent tutorial we featured with another notable pro who demonstrates the difference between illuminating a scene with flash or simple LED lights, and how to make the right choice for your style of photography.
