To make better street photos, integrate more negative space.
TAKE YOUR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE NEXT LEVEL with ERIC KIM >
Why negative space?
![Abstract walking woman with umbrella. Seoul. 2009](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/23E460A3-D942-40FD-938D-2B6F21A48D19.jpeg?resize=1999%2C1333)
Negative space gives room for your photo to breathe. By having more negative space, you give more attention and focus to your subjects in the frame.
This also works well when photographing objects. See how much darkness and shadows you can integrate into your frame.
![Abstract of the 'figure to ground' relationship of the picture.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Hanoi-woman-silhouette-by-door-abstract-composition.jpg?resize=3936%2C2608)
Negative space in street photography tips:
![Man in silhouette. Street photograph at Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi, 2017 / ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/8E7C7545-29D3-4320-BFC7-C89A4C925AB9.jpeg?resize=4928%2C3264)
- Use -1 or -2 exposure compensation when shooting street photography, to darken the background, to integrate more negative space.
- Leave a little bit of negative space in front of your subjects to move into. This is a good technique for leading lines, and the “fishing technique” in street photography.
- Use a flash to darken the background.
- When you’re shooting a scene, seek to subtract, not to add to the frame.
- When you’re shooting try to make sure the background is simple and clean.
- Start off with a black background, and wait for your subjects to enter the frame.
![Chiaroscuro. DYNAMIC LIGHT AND SHADOW. Hanoi, 2016 by ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/1F6DDCBA-F2FF-4148-A87C-69D5CB628213.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1324)
More ideas:
1. Use negative space to your benefit
![Negative space on bottom of man. Silhouette, Sapa Vietnam 2016](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/eric-kim-abstract-photography13.jpeg?resize=2000%2C3020)
When you’re shooting with a wide-angle lens like a 28mm in street photography, and can’t get any closer to your subject, put negative space below or above them — and fill the frame with negative space.
For example, this is how this composition looks when abstracted:
2. Negative space around your subject
![Negative white space around black hand. Hanoi, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/eric-kim-abstract-photography3-1.jpg?resize=3264%2C4928)
In this photo of a mans hand, see how I integrated the Golden rectangle composition (drawn in red lines).
Also, note the negative space around his hands (with red blocks), and the negative space on the right and left (yellow, blue):
3. Make the eyes of your subject direct the eyes of your viewer
![Cindy looking up in the elevator with circles. Hanoi, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/6697D16C-6332-43D2-9439-FEB9E10C74A6.jpeg?resize=2000%2C3020)
To lead the eyes of your subject to different parts of the frame, have them track the eyes of your subject in the frame.
For example, look at this picture of Cindy looking up. It makes the viewer of the picture also look up (the same direction as Cindy):
4. Negative space and flash
Examples of photos with flash, to add negative space in the background:
![Hands of a 92 year old woman. Hanoi, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/64DC1FDD-687A-4338-93F4-F00DE3C69709.jpeg?resize=4928%2C3264)
![Face mask. Hanoi, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/A6ADF5F9-0DA4-4F09-9555-3977E386307A.jpeg?resize=4928%2C3264)
5. Allow your subject to exit the frame
![Hanoi, 2017 #cindyproject. Silhouette, see the negative space to the left of her, which allows her to exit the frame.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/eric-kim-photography-hanoi-0010906-1.jpg?resize=4928%2C3264)
Cindy is walking left, and you can see it outlined in red.
This adds more dynamic tension to your photo —there is the anticipation of Cindy going to leave the frame.
Gestalt theory: we want to see “continuance”— we want to see the movement of the subject to continue and finish.
Conclusion
![Negative space around woman. Kyoto zen temple, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/4134593F-C6F6-48E4-8491-6E2F06106ECE-1325x2000.jpeg?resize=1325%2C2000)
Negative space applies not just to photography, but life.
In photography and life, seek to subtract, not add.
When in doubt, subtract.
EMPTY YOURSELF to fill yourself up.
ERIC