Empty Space? Or Part of the Story?

This week, Jude’s Photo Challenge invites us to use empty – negative – space as part of a photo.

I thought that Becky’s Perspective Squares Challenge provided a perfect tool to consider the value of this space.  Is it empty  – as in vacant?  Or does it tell us more about what’s going on?

So I’m going to show you each shot twice.  Once with the negative space I originally included, and then again, cropped to a square illustrating only the subject.  Which do you prefer, in each case?

This is a whistlestop tour to the bird reserve at Slimbridge, to the Farne Islands,  and for the last two sets of shots, to Dallowgill, a lonely, beautiful moor in Nidderdale, only a few miles from home. Click on the images to bring them up full size

Godwit at Slimbridge.
Arctic Tern at the Farne Islands.
Sheep at Dallowgill, Nidderdale.

 

Dallowgill, Nidderdale.

 

2020 Photo Challenge #29

Square Perspectives

 

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

35 thoughts on “Empty Space? Or Part of the Story?”

    1. Ah, interesting. I do see why, but for me, the sheep, all alone on the moor, reminded me of the wonderful bleakness of this spot.

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  3. Hmmm tricky. They each serve a different purpose I think. If I saw each version in isolation I would enjoy each of them. Paired in this way, I go for the empty space in all but the top one. I think there’s perhaps not enough space there! (An awkward customer here!) The space in the other shots adds a great deal to the story and they’re all fab shots. My absolute fave is the tern – marvellous shot!

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    1. Those terns were magnificent! I got lots of good shots as they homed in to attack me. It was obligatory to wear a hat. And very obviously not Health and Safety gone mad. I think your’e right about the top shot. I might already have cropped it a while back when I originally downloaded, and gone a bit too chop-happy. Thanks for the comments!

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  5. A very interesting series. I love the sheep with the space, prefer the godwit with space, and like both shots of the tern and the trees. I need more space on some of my pictures!

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  6. I like Sandra’s reply. I also think the Godwit needs more space, preferably to the right of it. The sheep I love in the wider landscape, but the trees work well in both formats. If I only saw the cropped version I would still like it. Thanks for a lovely selection Margaret. Spoiled for choice!

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    1. I agree space to the right might have been good. Sometimes you only realise these things back home when it’;s too late. Thanks for the full critique!

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  9. Brilliant demonstration of space and the impact of square cropping. So to answer your questions
    1 – The photographer in me is Sandra and Jude, I think the ripples in circle need to be complete, the birder however loves both!
    2 – The birder and photographer like both 😀
    3 – Squared goat, coz I love its face!
    4 – definitely landscape in landscape

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    1. Gosh, that’s a very detailed critique – thank you. And you’re right. You can wear several hats when looking at photos, which may lead you to different conclusions. I agree with your decisions apart from the sheep. I think she needs to be seen in the context of the surrounding moor – but that’s just a Northern Yokel speaking.

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  11. All of them, absolutely all of them with the extra space. On what planet did anybody think just squares were great for photos, oh yes, that was some dudes in San Francisco that infected the world with Instagram.

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    1. Luckily, these days we can make photos any size and shape we want. And square photos pre-date Instagram, I think. I’m sure I had a little b/w camera once that only delivered perfect squares.

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  12. I loved looking at this exercise and agree the photos are good in both ways. I thought the space contributed to each picture, but I also loved the close ups of the flying bird (oh dear is it a tern?) and the sheep (or is it a goat?). Ah these townies ……

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    1. Yes, it is a tern. I did caption it, but WordPress decided against including it, though I tried several times. And yes, it’s certainly a sheep. This is Yorkshire, tha knows.

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  13. I like that the tern is flying into the negative space. I would like the sheep to be facing towards the negative space too! I like the trees and landscape uncropped. An interesting exercise and food for thought.

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