Composition technique - Balance & Symmetry
Blog entry
29th April
This blog is all about this question - What is balance & symmetry in photography?
I will run through what this means and how balancing harmony & symmetry are artistic elements used to improve your photography.
Balance
Balance is a compositional technique in photography that juxtaposes images within a frame so that the objects are of equal visual weight. When different parts of a photo command your attention equally, perfect balance is achieved.
Here is the list of elements to consider to help include balance in your photography:
Colour - this relates to how the selection of colours within a photograph, balances with each other.
Take a read of my colour in your photography for more information on understanding colour
Light versus shadow - Make sure you consider the basic camera skills of understanding exposure.
Texture
Visual weight
Subject Placement
This links to the positioning of either elements or objects in a photograph, take a read of my Rule of third blog
Symmetry - Read the rest of the blog on this subject.
Depth of field
Negative space
These 8 elements of balance, show you that visually you need to consider how your images are composed within the balance composition technique. These elements are used within artwork, film, interior design & architecture. The main meaning behind a balanced photograph is that all elements seem equal. This is rather difficult to explain in written words, so take a look at my video below, as I have explained it verbally against a set of images that link to some of the 8 elements listed above.
Now that you have listened to these explanations per photo I want to explain symmetry.
Understanding Balance and Symmetry
Take further reading on this subject
Symmetry
Symmetry is the visual quality of repeating parts of an image across an axis, along a path or around a centre.
Look at my before and after images below.
I have used Photoshop to edit the image so that the mountain has been reflected, with equal sides.
Original Photograph
Video of the process below
Edited photograph, to show symmetry
The above example shows vertical symmetry, but there are two types of symmetry and these are:
HORIZONTAL SYMMETRY
RADIAL SYMMETRY
The question that I wish to answer within this blog is, What is balance & symmetry in photography?
I have explained what each area means when trying to use either to improve the quality of your photographs. Balance requires each object or section of the photograph to be equal. This is very similar to symmetry as these images show reflection or mirroring in a photograph. The combination of both, the balancing of objects or equal sections and the mirror effect of symmetry forms symmetrical balance. Symmetrical balance is the most common way to photograph an image. In symmetrically balanced photos, both sides of the frame have equal weight and may even mirror each other. My example of the mountain above is an example of symmetrical balance. This technique is a unique way to create some amazing architectural photographs, where you can shoot bridges & buildings. When you begin to research or experiment in these areas, one key tip is not to get confused with balance and symmetrical balance. These visually are not the same. When you see symmetrically balanced images you will always be able to see an invisible vertical line where the photo is then mirrored to show equal sides in the photograph.
Take look at these examples
To answer the question of the blog, you need to learn about asymmetrical balance, as this occurs when you have different visual images on either side of the design, and yet the image still seems balanced. This is the opposite of symmetrical balance as the images still show the key balance areas covered in the balance section of the blog and the symmetry.
Take a look at these examples.
Texture
An example of asymmetrical balance and the balance texture element, with equal areas of two different textured surfaces.
Visual Weight
An example of asymmetrical balance & you can visually see that the balance element used is visual weight, as the two objects are different in proportion to one another.
Subject Placement
An example of asymmetrical balance and the balance element, is subject placement, with the bike and window aligned up with the rule of thirds grid.
Summary
So the main answer to the question of What is balance & symmetry in photography?
Well, you can take photographs that link to each composition technique, separately or together. Visually the asymmetrical balance adds to the quality of your photograph and this covers all of the 8 ways to use balance in your photography. Any composition technique is always used to improve the visual appearance of your photographs. This leads to the answer, understanding what each means, and beginning to use them to take amazing photographs. Just remember that balance harmony & symmetry are artistic elements that add to your photography. The main thing is to make sure that you understand how to include these in your photographic practice and this comes with experimentation and practice. So I have included some ways to play with these composition techniques at home.
AT HOME
Here are some tips to use when deciding to take a photograph
Find a symmetrical subject or object & centre yourself on the subject, before taking the photograph.
When using your iPhone shoot in a square format as it’s easier to get a perfect shot.
Use a tripod where possible.
To get you thinking of what you can take photographs of, I want you to take a moment and take a couple of minutes to just take a look around you.
Quick dictionary description for Symmetry
Symmetry most often refers to mirror or reflective symmetry; that is, a line (in 2-D) or plane (in 3-D) can be drawn through an object such that the two halves are mirror images of each other.
Easier description
An object is symmetrical if you can fold it in half and the two halves match exactly.
You’ll be surprised by how much symmetry you will see, that is either manmade or natural. If you can not think of any, here are some ideas to get you started:
Shelves of books
A row of windows
A full rack of bicycles
Rows of lavender growing in a field
A puddle, a lake, any flat water
You home…
Doorways
I suggest that you use these as your starting blocks and take some photographs of them. While you take the images here are some things to work on.
Website to read for further ideas:
Please take a further look at this article on this subject
Symmetry In Photography - 7 Great Tips https://www.pixpa.com/blog/symmetry-photography
Firstly take a set of photographs that link to 1 or all 8 of the balance elements suggested in this blog.
Then think about how you could take a set of symmetrical photographs with either vertical, horizontal, or radial. Here is a little idea, one photograph could be the wheel of the bike.
Your challenge will be to combine balance & symmetry, by taking asymmetrical balance photographs.
Thank you for reading the blog
Contact me if you have any questions about this composition technique.
My next blog will be on Patterns in photography, if you are reading my blogs, I would love to know what else you would be interested in learning.
If you enjoyed this blog, then please read any of my other blogs on Viewpoint, Leading Line and Colour
Please leave any comments or subject suggestions that you would wish for me to cover on the subject of Photography.
Thank you for reading.
