C5 Positive/Negative; Figure/Ground; Notan

 

 

 

 

 

 


It’s your turn! This exercise
deals with how positive/negative, figure/ground and notan relationships can be discovered nearly anywhere.

Details: Find several images that were unintentionally taken or were just poorly composed to begin with. Pick one and crop into it (meaning to trim away the excess, typically after enlarging) so as to reveal a balance between positive and negative shapes. This may involve losing your photo’s sharpness, meaning or importance, but not to worry. We’re just dealing with space and shape and emphasis at this time.

Rotate the image if desired. Crop even further if necessary. After achieving the desired balance between positive and negative areas, use the original image again, but now create a second composition. In this alternate composition, your intention will be to achieve balance between dark areas, medium areas, and lighter areas, that neither will dominate one over the other. Lastly, compare the two compositions. How are they similar to one other and how are they different?

Videos:
Positive/Negative Space 3: Figure/Ground and Notan

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