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Paul Schwartz
RIT Imaging Professor/Grandfathered Kodaker

March 25, 2008

Negative Space and the Child-like Mind

In art, and photography, there is the concept of negative space.  It is the "surround", the area of the image that is not the subject.  A classic example is the optical illusion of Rubin's vase.  The image makes sense given the viewers perspective.  Photographers and artists consider perspective and negative space in their compositions;  many times unconsciously.  I've pulled up a set of photos that have some interesting negative space.

  
  

Taking the concept beyond the world of images, I'm starting to think about the environment as negative space (of a sort) and been able to see some new relationships because of that.  Again words fail, so here are some more photos that might help.

  
  

Ever since age 14, I've been finding I know less and less.  (I think it is still a known fact that 14 year olds are at the pinnacle of Know-Everything-ness).  We all have knowledge, education, experience and our own judgments.  I'm finding tons of new and interesting learning in exploring the negative space areas.  It is truly vast and endless.  Every once-in-a-while, I'll attempt to frame it and photograph it and some of those I'll pass on in future posts.

  
  

Now, I'm off to fuss about with gamma and make some adjustments to some new digital inter-negatives for some cyanotype printing this spring.

"Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is."  (Jedi Master, Yoda)