Using Space in Photography
Let's start with the sports pictures. Quite frequently the cameraman of a sport like soccer, football or even competitive cycling will have a single subject - the sportsman. In addition, this sportsman is generally in motion and heading towards a goal or finishing line. While watching this as it occurs can be exciting, a picture of a sporting hero doing their job can really be lifeless.
How often do we see pictures of a runner running towards the end zone? These aren't always pressing pictures, but they might be if the snapper had only added a factor of space to the photograph.
How is this done? For sports or motion photographs the old rule of 3rds is bent a bit. Rather than having the topic taking up the middle 3rd of the scene, they're balanced at one end or the other. As an example, that runner would have the space in front of him to give the image a feeling of his goal and some energy. This same principle can apply to something similar to wildlife photography too. While a dog running across the turf is an engaging thing to record with your camera, such a scene loses its impact if it is merely a portrait of a dog in the centre of the frame. Instead, the snapper could pan on the dog and leave a trail of space behind him to give a feeling of his speed and excitement.
Where portraiture is concerned the same notion of extra space can bring a good deal of interest to what may instead be a moderately plain image. As an example, a smiling kid looking at once into the lens is always going to be a pleasant photograph, but if that kid is smiling at something or somebody "off camera” it adds vibrancy and extraordinary depth. Quite frequently a picture with the subject's attention directed back into the same space as the spectator can give a big effect. It is very important to recollect that if the topic is looking to their right or left, the portrait must be balanced to accommodate this. This indicates that the individual should be bumped to an alternative side of the frame from that direction which they're facing.