- Symmetrical Balance; Even balance along a centre line or "axis". Radial Symmetry, rotating around a centre point. Exact Symmetry, a mirror image or an exactly repeated design. Axial Symmetry, having two opposing repeats, one on each side of an axis.
- Asymmetrical Balance; Counterbalanced with contrasts such as dull and bright colors, dark with light values, geometric with organic shapes, active and inactive areas.
- Approximate Symmetry; Overall organization in which an even placement of color, forms, etc is displayed.
- Occult; Background is most dominant feature.
Image 1: The head of one of my Royal Pythons
This was one of the first photographs I took with my DSLR. I've decided to use it in this project because the shape of the subject and even the multiple shadows show perfect symmetry and therefore is perfectly balanced.Image 2: An old ornament of a disappointed golfer
Whilst digging through my archive of photographs, I came across this asymmetrical, occult image. It contains no type of symmetry what-so-ever. I feel it's relatively well balanced. It feels very comfortable to look at. Even though the subject is placed on the right hand side of the image, the black background on the left seems to fill the empty space and counterbalance the weight of the subject. The background takes up the majority of the area within the frame and so I've classed this as occult.Image 3: A section of the waterfall from my garden pond
My other example images for this project are all landscape format so felt I should include a portrait image. This photograph is an example of approximate symmetry. The shapes are symmetrical, however it is not perfect symmetry because the colours and contrasts vary on either side. This being said, it is a well balanced photograph.
Image 4: My Largest and Smallest lenses
This asymmetrical photograph is unbalanced due to the visual weight of the main subjects. The background on the right and the equivalent spacing between the subjects manages to balance the scale a little but not sufficiently in order to counter the weight of the larger lens on the left.Image 5: An old building in Tatton Park's Tower Garden
This photograph is very asymmetrical although it is well balanced. The weight of the main subject on the left is countered by the bushes and tree slightly to the right of the centre and the wall and tree on the right hand side.Image 6: A rolled up Guitar Strap
Another asymmetrical image here. The only visible part is the main subject itself as the background is pure white. With a border around the photograph the background is then noticeable. The weight and dark colours of the strap strongly contrast with the white background, this balances the image although it is still not perfect. Cropping the image to only show main subject would create perfect balance.Whilst completing this project I found it very hard to determine why certain photographs appear well balanced. It is very easy to see balance in a symmetrical photograph than an asymmetrical photograph. Looking back at Image 4 I have decided that my scales are a misrepresentation of its balance. I feel that the equidistant spaces between the lenses and the edges of the frame give the image a much better balance than I originally thought. I have learnt that there's a lot more to balance than symmetry of shapes and will keep an eye out for the different aspects of balance when reviewing photographs in the future.
