Negative space in minimalist photography: the relationship between the subject and white space

The subject and the surrounding space together form the picture

Negative space doesn’t have to be a solid, empty background. Grass, sand, or sky can all become the space around the subject; when composing a picture, look not only at the subject, but also at how it and the surrounding area occupy the frame. 〔G-NS-01, G-NS-02〕

Determine the main body first, then organize the edges

Once you’ve chosen the subject you want the viewer to pay attention to first, check the foreground and background for distracting elements. You can try changing your stance, viewing range or cropping to compare the relationship between the subject and the surrounding space. Nikon's salt marsh example uses water to set off grass, illustrating that negative space can come from a real scene, not just an empty studio background. 〔G-NS-02, G-NS-03〕

Incorporate light and space into the framing

Observe where the light falls and whether shadows help distinguish the subject from its surroundings. Try different framings and compare which version better meets your expressive goals; you don’t need to follow a fixed white space ratio, and you don’t need to limit negative space to black and white or a solid color background. 〔G-NS-04〕