Nature's Grace in Negative Space: A photo essay using sky and snow as canvas

catharcissism (61)in #photography • 7 years ago

Before we get to the fun stuff let me just apologize for the formatting. I know it's pretty bland. I'm still working out the best way to format posts that contain a lot of pictures.

Now that's out of the way, let's party! This post is going to be examining some pictures I took during winter in Ottawa 2 years ago. I'll try to explain why I believe the pictures have value, and why I chose them above others to feature here. Hopefully it gives you some insight into the rules of good photography. And encourages you to figure out how to break those rules, while still producing a compelling image. The photos are all centered around the theme of using negative space to highlight objects. Because these were all taken in the wild, I often used the sky or snow for this. So think of these pictures as being painted on the sky. Cause that's a cool as hell concept.

First up is an abstract shot I took by the Prince William Bridge. I love using negative space to bring new focus to banal objects. The pure white sky behind the branches encourages a new appreciation for the natural lines, and repetitive structure of the natural elements. Triangles, circles, rectangles, cylinders and other shapes can be readily seen. The colours were achieved by simply cranking saturation and vibrance past their natural thresholds. It's made for an aesthetically pleasing image, albeit one that doesn't get much value from its socio/cultural context.

This next shot is of Canada's Parliament building. Again I used tree branches, but this time as a frame instead of a focal point. I really enjoyed the warm pastel pallet sky, which I've contrasted with darker tones. This is something you don't normally see. Typically pastels are used in bright and cheery sentiments. I believe this photo moves past being simply aesthetically pleasing, and begins to have meaning in a societal context. For that reason I find it interesting.

Here's a little skyline of the city. It's an odd picture when you consider the technical fortitude of it. You have the red bushes in the front acting as a foreground object, but they're slightly out of focus. Typically your foreground objects should be sharp, unless you're using them as a framing device, or something to that effect. This picture is odd. It really shouldn't be all that good. It doesn't even have a subject. But I still like it. It's as if the picture is meant to be taken as a whole, instead of appreciated for its various elements (like most shots). I'd love to get your thoughts on it. If you like it or why you don't. Do note that the bushes and buildings each make use of their own seperate negative space.

These next two shots are one of my earliest attempts at macro. I love how the rough texture of the berries contrasts with the smooth texture of the ice, and the juxtaposition that creates. On the one hand you have a life-sustaining fruit looking haggard and wrinkled. On the other there is the dead, cold ice looking smooth and elegant. Once again I've used the sky as a way to frame these otherwise ordinary objects, hopefully highlighting them and encouraging the viewer to think wonder on them a little.

Here's something you don't often see: a plant thriving under ice. I'm not sure how or why it's able to do this. If there are any botanists in the house, jump in any time. I'd rather not delve into the aesthetic nature and value of this photo myself. But I would LOVE to see one of you do so. Tell me why you think this photo represents. Why I took it. Why I think it was good enough to show you.

Here is another photo that uses negative space as a frame. Again it's a shot of Ottawa's skyline, but with a decidedly different twist. This time the snow and the sky are both blown completely out. There are no details in either. The resulting pictures is simply a bright slash of colour through the middle of the page. This def goes against the rule of thirds here, not something I often due. But I think the starkness of the photo makes it work. It stands in bold opposition to photographic norms. Although I should allow that perhaps I just like it because I took it. Either way. It's one of the few pictures I plan on framing. I think it would look spectacular on a wall.

This last picture I'm going to show you is probably one of my oldest favourites. It was taken a few months before the rest of these pictures. Meaning it was one of the first photographs I took as a "serious" photographer. It's meant to be an abstract picture. Meaning it focuses more on the aesthetic than the practical. I love the way the lines seem to be exploding outwards. The texture and the rust of the metal is also appealing. It gives the photograph a lot of character and depth.