Another rule of composition that we’ve talked about previously is creating Active Space for moving subjects to move into.
The idea is that if you are photographing a subject that is moving you should place more empty space in front of it than behind it. This gives the viewer of the image a sense of where the subject is moving and creates a sense of anticipation.
While following this rule can produce some excellent results, breaking it can add a little tension and intrigue to your images.
Image by Jim Skea
It can also convey a sense of speed and/or give the viewer a sense of where the subject has been rather than where they are headed.
For instance – the image to the left would not have been as dramatic without the trailing smoke behind the place. The fact that it’s approaching the top edge of the frame also gives a sense of speed as it almost bursts out of the frame (not to mention the clever mirroring and contrasts in the image).
This post belongs to our series of posts on breaking rules of photography to get great images.
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