By Gary Fong

 

Photographer: Aaron Hardin, http://aaronhardinphoto.com

 

 

 

Designing tension in photos is an editorial decision that can be useful to draw disheartened emotions. Most composition and subject placement strives to balance the visual flow of telling a complete story. But using negative space in composition is just as valid as conventional relationships.

 

Aaron Hardin, covering the people of Ethiopia used negative space in his composition to open up a different perspective to his subjects.

 

 

 

Sometimes when shooting, the light seems to always be in the wrong place.  But perceptive photographers may use backward light to their advantage. Creating mystery or tension is story telling too. 

 

Having the subject looking “into” the frame give the viewer context to where the subject is going.  Having the subject looking “out” of the frame somehow conveys where he/she has been.

 

The negative space (that space that has no apparent compositional advantage), draws the eye into wondering mode…or asks the view the “why” questions.  Where most composition attempt to answer questions about the story…negative space raises the questions to elicit curiosity.

 

The lack of detail in the face also contributes to the mystery or story completeness. Add negative space to the lack of detail where detail is general expected…one creates mystery.

 

There are other reasons for using negative space, i.e. for editorial text placement on magazine covers, etc.; but for the moment we’re not talking about layout needs. We’re talking about moving the eye around the print in unexpected directions, designed to create tension or a sense of mystery.

 

Aaron raises the question, if these types of images would sell in a gallery.  It all depends on the clientele.  In a small close knit city with conventional worldviews, perhaps not. Those clients may prefer scenic or sunset photos.  However, in a larger metropolitan with cosmopolitan curiosities, maybe yes.

 

In the editorial world, pictures should tell stories.  However, the appreciation of art in a gallery is personal…i.e. it’s a little more complicated than “what I like, I like…what I don’t like, I don’t like”.