Amy, our Lens-Artists host this week, writes:
This week we will explore negative space in photography. Negative space is the area around the main subject of your photograph. This space is empty or unoccupied. Spencer Cox at Photography Life explains, ”Photos with high amounts of negative space are: empty, subdued, peaceful, calm, and isolated”.
If you’re familiar with this blog, you can imagine that I had all sorts of philosophical associations with the words “negative space”. Here I am in California, giving hospice care to my mother with lung cancer while the West Coast is on fire. Two of my children and their spouses live in Oregon, where I moved at the beginning of August, leaving Wisconsin. If you read the news, you know there is a lot of scary stuff going on in all of these places, a lot of “negative” energy.
However, now I know that “negative space” can just be the background that allows you to focus on a particular subject. Re-framing the shot, allowing the busy-ness surrounding the essential element to blur, highlights its unique and important features.
Empty, subdued, peaceful, calm and isolated.
So, maybe all of the disasters of 2020 are just the “negative space” that will allow us as humans to focus on what it supremely important about life on this planet. And what do you think that is?
scillagrace 
Thank you, Priscilla, for caring for your mother, my beloved sister. How tragic that, in the midst of the West Coast conflagration(s) you have the pain of watching the suffering of your beloved mother, my sister Anne Louise. Stay well yourself, Dear… Love, Aunt Sandy
Thank you, Aunt Sandy, for your well wishes and your prayers. I’m finding the positive image of my mom’s spirit here, and it is quite uplifting.
Excellent. And I wish you will be able to keep on caring for your mother despite the fearful situation over there. We here from it several times a day. Stay as well as you can. Thinking of you.
Thanks, Ann-Christine. I appreciate your good thoughts. ❤
Remarkable photos, these express empty, subdued, peaceful,… All are beautifully captured, Priscilla.
Scary to watch the news… It is a difficult situation for you and your family. My thoughts are with you. “…to focus on what it supremely important about life on this planet.” — Thank you so much for your wise words and reminder. Take care.
Thanks, Amy. Your instruction on photography is actually good life instruction, too. Funny how that often works…
Ooooh Priscilla, loved your closing sentences – very powerful. Also loved your image choices, especially the cheese and the ladybug. Hope it’s going OK out there and that you are at least somewhere distant from the fires. It’s just awful in both states, our thoughts are with all of you.
Thanks, Tina. I am at a distance from the actual fires, as are all of my family. The poor air quality, however, fills that distance, unfortunately. Thank you for your good wishes.
Each one so delightful!
Thank you, Dora!
Nice examples of negative space.
I really like to see how you find the “positive space”, despite everything “negative”. I wish for your mother’s recovery, I also went through a similar situation with my mother, some years ago.
Stay safe and take care!
Thanks, Ana. Finding positive space is how we exercise and practice hopefulness. Gotta keep at it!
Beautiful negative spaces! And I also hope we humans can focus on what’s positive.
Thanks! Yes, keep the good thoughts!
Getting along with each other and nature? Excellent photos. Well done.
Thanks, John.
Such lovely pictures, really like the first one and also the lady bug. Try to stay strong and be safe during these challenging issues you are dealing with.
Thanks, Sylvia, for your likes and your encouragement.
Really
Loved the beauty in each photo – like a pause to feel the subject and exhale
–
And sending good vibes your way as you care for your mother — and as everyone deals with the fires and the gulf coast gets hurricane sally –
Ugh
2020 has had so much suckiness
Thanks for visiting my post and for your good wishes. May 2020 give us the hindsight we need to avoid future suckiness!
Yes / may it please have many good fruits like that! What a year!!
For sure the space is never negative when you are in it my friend. xx
Thank you, my friend. I do want to be positive!
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These photos are just so wonderful to look at. Thanks for posting them.
My pleasure! I’m glad you enjoy them. Thanks for your visit!
Wonderful photos, so positively describing negative spaces. Hope you’re safe and well!
Thanks, Dina! Doing my best to be so; hope you are too!
What delightful photos for this week’s challenge. I love the cheese — mainly because I’ve never thought of taking a picture of something I have in my kitchen. It’s the unusual shots that get my attention, so thanks for this good one!
Thank you! I think of that nursery rhyme about the Farmer in the Dell that ends with “the cheese stands alone” every time I see that photo. 🙂
You’ve made me smile this morning! Hadn’t thought about that quote in a long, long time!
i hope you will continue to be able to take care of your mother despite the difficult situation over there! my thoughts are with you💞
Follow @everythingtips for tips and recommendations if interested! It would mean a lot to me🤍🥺
Thanks for your concern. I will look over your blog.