Lost in Translation

Thursday’s Special: Negative Space aka the Bleak Beak

In photography, negative space denotes the area between and around objects in a photo. With the clever use of negative space you may place more emphasis on the subject of your photo and evoke emotions effectively. In this photo I believe that the unconventional framing of the swan suggests impending danger for some unsuspecting prey, hopefully a fly or a mosquito.

 

 
bleak beak

If you would like to participate in Thursday’s Special themeless (non)challenge, feel free to grab my Jupiter widget bellow and provide a link to this post in your post especially designed for this occasion. More details in Thursday’s Special introductory post. 

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Check out the contributions to Thursday’s Special:

Paula
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45 responses to “Thursday’s Special: Negative Space aka the Bleak Beak”

  1. equinoxio21 Avatar
    equinoxio21

    Hola Paula Not sure I understood the notion of negative space. 🙂 (Or is everything around me negative?)
    🙂
    Bon cadrage de toute façon!
    A +
    Brian

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      I wouldn’t be surprised that everything around you is negative 😉 It seems that way too here at work…. Je te remercie pour ta gentillesse. A+

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. equinoxio21 Avatar
        equinoxio21

        Allez, bon week-end. Ne manque pas le chapitre 49 de Foglines! (Le dénouement!) 🙂

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    2. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Brian, Je ne peux pas ouvrir ton blog et je ne sais pas pourquoi :S

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      1. equinoxio21 Avatar
        equinoxio21

        Chais pas. C’est bizarre. Aujourd’hui je l’ai ouvert sans problème. Essaye encore? 🙂

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  2. Jeff Sinon Avatar
    Jeff Sinon

    Nice shot Paula,love the perspective. Though you might want to watch out because the impending danger may be heading your way. Swans can be down right nasty.

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    1. Cardinal Guzman Avatar
      Cardinal Guzman

      I agree with Jeff. Swans are beautiful, but they can be nasty sometimes.

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      1. Paula Avatar
        Paula

        I have never experienced them as nasty, but I believe this photo is showing them in that light.

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      2. Jeff Sinon Avatar
        Jeff Sinon

        I’ve been chased by a few of them. Strangely enough, telling them that they’d fit nicely in my oven does not deter them one bit 😉

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        Reply
  3. Linda Arthur Tejera Avatar
    Linda Arthur Tejera

    Beautiful! Maybe it’s the angle but that swan looks ready for bear! 🙂

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      😀 Thank you Linda, I think your perception is right 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. morselsandscraps Avatar
    morselsandscraps

    Thank you for demonstrating negative space so beautifully. The composition and consequent focus on the beak is wonderful. (You really have an aversion to flies. I thought that was an Australian state of mind! May the swan eradicate them for you.)

    I think I might have encountered negative space yesterday at an artists’ group I gate crashed as a writer: one of the artists worked with a fountain pen and archival black ink to fill an A5 page with intricate patterning. In the top left hand corner there was a lizard-insect creature, whose tail was part of the intricacy and whose head emerged into a patch of white space, bordered by a bit more pen work. Tell me: does this qualify?

    I’m being idle (I should be preparing my deck garden for a weekend planting) so I also googled and found this collection which is worth a look
    http://www.creativebloq.com/art/art-negative-space-8133765

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Hello Meg, I am sure it qualifies 🙂 but I couldn’t find the link or the post. Can you send the link, please?

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      1. morselsandscraps Avatar
        morselsandscraps

        This is the link

        http://www.creativebloq.com/art/art-negative-space-8133765

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        1. Paula Avatar
          Paula

          Hi Meg, I thought you were talking about your post for TS. I have seen that one before. Thank you 🙂

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  5. Sue Slaght Avatar
    Sue Slaght

    A mysterious look to the background for sure Paula. Not sure what to expect might come out from the darkness.

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  6. NW Frame of Mind Avatar
    NW Frame of Mind

    Great angles in this shot, Paula.

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Thanks a lot, Lisa 🙂

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      Reply
  7. 76sanfermo Avatar
    76sanfermo

    …e cosi , si nota perfino lo sguardo del pennuto….
    Sta sicuramente “puntando” qualcosa……………….
    Bravissima , Paula , come sempre!

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      😀 la parola “pennuto” e nova per me 😀

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  8. Blue space | Le Drake Noir Avatar
    Blue space | Le Drake Noir

    […] Inspired from the always worth visiting Paula’s Thursday’s Special *non-theme*: “Negative space“ […]

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  9. Graffiti 4005 | artishorseshit

    […] Check out Paula’s post: https://bopaula.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/thursdays-special-negative-space-aka-the-bleak-beak/ […]

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  10. Cardinal Guzman Avatar
    Cardinal Guzman

    Here’s a negative space that’s been turned into something more colorful and positive: http://artishorseshit.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/graffiti-4005/

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Yes, a very interesting piece of street art. Thank you for the link, CG.

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      1. Cardinal Guzman Avatar
        Cardinal Guzman

        My pleasure Paula.

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  11. Lignum Draco Avatar
    Lignum Draco

    I’ve seen them try to bite people and dragons too, so I stay well clear. 🙂

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      😀 and I will take your word for it and not tempt them 🙂

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  12. Colline Avatar
    Colline

    Interesting Notes on photography Paula. The swan is truly a beauty.

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Yeah, but a mean one 😉 Thank you for brightening my day with your visit, Colline.

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      1. Colline Avatar
        Colline

        I have heard that swans are not very friendly!

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  13. anotherday2paradise Avatar
    anotherday2paradise

    Great shot, Paula. That negative space appears to be moving. 🙂 The music certainly sounds like impending danger.

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      🙂 a zoom lens.. Thank you dear Sylvia 🙂

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  14. hilarycustancegreen Avatar
    hilarycustancegreen

    This is a perfect illustration of something I was trying to say to a writer/blogger whose writing is all swan and no negative space. Glad it has a name, thanks.

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      😀 You’ve made me laugh Hilary. We need negative space….

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  15. Uday Narayanan Avatar
    Uday Narayanan

    Totally agree with the comment above. This is a perfect example of how negative space can be used beautifully. I like the unique composition, Paula.

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      🙂 means a lot..

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  16. Silken Feather Against Feather as She Rises | Babsje Heron

    […] again to Paula for hosting her wonderful Thursday’s Special […]

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  17. babsje Avatar
    babsje

    Lovely swan photo Paula, and a great example of, and text about, negative space.

    Here’s mine for this Thursday, though it may already be Friday for you. 🙂

    Silken Feather Against Feather as She Rises

    Silken Feather Against Feather as She Rises

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  18. Patricia Avatar
    Patricia

    A (non)challenge challenge is my idea of a great challenge.

    patriciasplace.me/

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  19. Patricia Avatar
    Patricia

    okay let’s try the link again

    Thursday’s Special: future femme fatale…

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Thank you, Patricia. She is adorable 😀

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  20. lumar1298 Avatar
    lumar1298

    Very nice way to use negative space… I have go searching for a pic or two and see if I have any…

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      That’s nice of you, Lumar 🙂

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      Reply
  21. Patti Kuche Avatar
    Patti Kuche

    I sometimes think these innocent looking creatures need all the negative space you can give them. A lovely shot Paula!

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  22. Black & White Sunday: Negative Space (Response to Guest Challenge) | Lost in Translation Avatar
    Black & White Sunday: Negative Space (Response to Guest Challenge) | Lost in Translation

    […] My earlier post in colour with the same theme: Bleak Beak […]

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