How do you make someone look very lonely or small in a picture by having lots and lots of empty space around them?

To make someone look very lonely or small in a picture using empty space, the primary technique is to employ negative space extensively. Negative space refers to the empty or open area surrounding the main subject of an image, which is known as positive space. When the negative space is vastly larger than the positive space, it creates a visual imbalance that psychologically emphasizes the subject's isolation and insignificance within its environment. This technique works by making the subject physically occupy only a tiny fraction of the overall photographic frame, thereby diminishing its visual presence. For example, placing a person near the bottom corner of an image with a vast expanse of sky or a wide-open landscape above and around them will immediately make them appear small and isolated. The sheer scale of the empty space overwhelms the subject. Compositionally, this is achieved by placing the subject far from the center, often towards an edge or corner, to prevent it from dominating the frame. The empty space itself should be kept relatively plain and uncluttered, lacking competing elements that might distract from its vastness or from the subject. Simple backgrounds like a clear sky, a calm body of water, a bare wall, or an open field are ideal. Perspective also plays a crucial role; photographing from a greater distance or using a wide-angle perspective makes the surroundings appear more expansive and distant, further shrinking the subject. A high camera angle, looking down on the subject, can also enhance the feeling of smallness and vulnerability, as the subject is visually pressed down by the surrounding empty space. Lighting can reinforce this effect; uniform, soft light across the empty space helps it recede and appear continuous, while dramatic lighting that spotlights the subject against a dark, expansive background can intensify the sense of isolation. The colors and textures within the empty space should be muted or monochromatic to avoid drawing attention away from the subject or breaking up the vastness, ensuring the emptiness remains a powerful, dominant element of the composition.