Using Negative Space

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"My destiny no longer has me conquering the highest towers in the world,
but rather the void they protect."
~Philippe Petit

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As an amateur photographer, negative space is something I’m striving to incorporate more into my pictures. In case you need a refresher on the term, here are some good definitions and explanations: 

"Negative space is, quite simply, the space that surrounds an object in an image. Just as important as that object itself, negative space helps to define the boundaries of positive space and brings balance¹ to a composition." ² 

"By using [negative space] correctly, skilled artists eliminate distractions and highlight the true subject of their art. It brings the most important aspects of a piece into focus. … “What is not there gives what is there meaning.” ³

The absence of content does not mean the absence of interest. In fact, negative space often adds interest as it can place a stronger emphasis on the subject and it can evoke emotions effectively. ⁴

I made the connection between negative space and rope walking when I read the quote by Philippe Petit about his destiny conquering voids. It hit me: photography isn’t the only aspect of my life where I “use” negative space. As an aspiring funambulist, I want to use negative spaces in my balancing: what was once the gap between two trees becomes a space to stretch my slackline; a handrail becomes a path above, rather than a barrier between, two spaces…and dreams tug at my heart, dreams of high balancing, of learning to feel confident in the midst of a void, just me and the rope in the midst of nothingness, collaborating to conquer pure space. 

Nik Wallenda crossing Niagra Falls
Photo by Frank Gunn, Canadian Press Via AP

Adili Wuxor, "Prince of the Highwire,"
above the Zhujiang River in Guangzhou
Picture from Xinhunet

Negative space is supposed to make a picture more striking, to heighten the emotional impact. It’s no wonder that funambulism captures the imagination—the act itself has built in negative space readymade for the artist to capture. Rope walking is all about what isn’t there—the ground or any other substantial base of support. Perhaps it was the photographer in me that drew me to rope walking.

Highliner Brian Mosbaugh
above Rio de Janeiro
Photo by Moab Monkey Scott Rogers

If negative space heightens the emotional impact for the viewer or spectator, what about the emotional impact on the subject—the balancer? If in art, negative spaces help define and give meaning to the positive spaces—the subject of the piece—does being on a wire, rope, or line, surrounded by…well, mostly nothing…help define my boundaries and give meaning to me? I think it does. Balancing has a meditative quality to it for me, it brings clarity and calm to my emotions. I have to force into retreat the many things that push and pull at me: the worries and distractions of everyday living, the person others think I should be, and even the things I want to believe about myself. For good and for ill, my “true self” takes center stage—I become the lone thing in midst of the void. And I see myself more clearly.

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¹ When choosing definitions to quote, a deciding factor was, indeed, this definition’s use of that wonderful word, “balance.”
² http://www.creativebloq.com/art/art-negative-space-8133765
³ http://iwillnotcallthisblogsimonsays.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/negative-space/
⁴ http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/positive-effect-of-negative-spaces-in-photography/