Active/dead space for better composition with Nokia 6120c

[abah kana]

Dear DPS members.
I've been practicing 'active/dead space' for better composition. I could easily determine 'active/dead space' when the object is moving from left to right or vice versa. But how about forward/backward movement?





and



Your suggestions could help me create better photos and are highly appreciated.
Thank you



For more photos I've made so far, you can check my flickr
Flickr: iwan purnaman's Photostream

[wulf]

Whether you can count something as "dead space" depends on how much it appears to be a subject in it's own right. With your images, the sky is empty but the railway tracks are strong subjects in themselves aside from the people so I wouldn't count them as dead space. I think that, here, your first shot is the strongest because it is best at balancing the sky and ground with the person (and various bits of railway furniture) bridging the divide.

Wulf

[abah kana]

Thank you, Wulf.
I always thought active/dead space was all about an imaginary path of subject's movement in picture. Now I know better (I hope).


BRs,

Abah

[wulf]

I think that is what I would refer to as "leading lines" - either physical or imaginary lines that lead the viewer across or into the frame. In the second two shots, I think the top is cropped rather low and so the effect is cramped - I guess you could say that where they lead is "too close to the ceiling"!

Wulf