Negative and Positive Spaces

Original Images:

BORZOI

Observations/Thoughts: 

There could be more experiments with the negative space of the borzoi. When the eyes were cut out, the borzoi was still recognisable. The image still looked like a dog. Having taken the eyes out, there only had the image flattened and details were taken away. However, the audience is still able to recognise the dog as a dog. However, when the focal point, which is the dog is completely removed, there was only a negative space where the dog once existed. There is no more familiar identity or detail that can allow the audience to recognise the dog as a dog. What is left is just the white space of the dog, as if a silhouette, just in white. The finished artwork's meaning changes. From a dog that is photographed to something that is less than a dog. It feels as if there the white space is something the audience have to interpret for themselves. There used to be something there but it has been removed. Instead, there is now empty void of space. This painfully reminds me of how in our everyday lives, there are things that are just like that. Once these things are removed, they are somewhat forgotten. It feels like there is something missing but you just cannot discern what it is.

NEBULUNG CAT

Observations/Thoughts:

The Nebulung Cat in this image is a super close-up shot where only the eye and nose can be seen. After subtracting the details of the cat, it still looked like a cat in the last photo. However, instead of the aesthetical feeling it gives off in the photo, the image transforms into an eerie feel due to the missing eye and nose. From a beautifully shot image, the finished artwork turns into something that is somewhat frightening as if like a skeleton cat. It reminds me of this Pokemon episode where the the pokemons turn into zombies.

Overall Thoughts:

Comparing the two experiments, it could be seen that negative space and positive space experiment will work better with dirty shots instead of clean, close-up shots. With dirty, wide-range shots, it seems that the meaning of the image will change more and there could be more interpretation behind it. The clean, close-up shots might change the tone of the image but the audience will still be able to identify the focus.