Balance is one of the most important principles of photographic composition. It refers to the distribution of visual elements in a photo and how their placement either provides or disturbs equilibrium in the image. There are a few main factors that contribute to balance in a photo – symmetry, color, shape, and weight. Understanding these elements and how to use them is key for any aspiring photographer looking to create aesthetically pleasing and captivating images.
What is balance in photography?
Balance in photography refers to the arrangement and distribution of visual elements within the photo frame. A balanced composition feels stable, orderly and aesthetically pleasing. An unbalanced composition feels disjointed and visually uncomfortable.
When the various compositional elements are arranged in a way that seems natural, proportional and weighted equally, the image has balance. But if some elements are emphasized more than others or positioned in an uneven or haphazard way, the image can look imbalanced or unstable.
Balanced composition is important because it creates harmony and structure within the frame. It allows the viewer’s eye to seamlessly move throughout the image. An unbalanced composition is visually disruptive and makes the photo feel chaotic or busy.
How is balance achieved in photography?
There are a few main techniques photographers use to achieve balance in their images:
Symmetry: Arranging elements so the left and right sides mirror each other. This creates a very centered and orderly look.
Asymmetry: Unbalanced distribution of elements that still looks harmonic. Using visual weight and space effectively creates balance without strict symmetry.
Color: Distributing colors evenly throughout the frame creates a sense of visual equilibrium.
Shape: Pairing round shapes with angular ones or large shapes with small ones helps offset elements.
Weight: Balancing the placement of dominant subjects or areas of visual interest with negative space or more minor elements.
Skillfully using these techniques allows photographers to create balanced compositions even when the subjects or scenery are irregular.
How does symmetry create balance?
Symmetry refers to elements being mirrored on both sides of an axis or center point within the photo frame. This technique creates a very centered, orderly look that many viewers find aesthetically pleasing.
Some examples of using symmetry to compose a balanced photo include:
– Positioning a subject directly in the center.
– Creating mirror reflections in water.
– Photographing symmetrical architecture or designs.
– Arranging elements equally on the left and right sides.
– Repeating patterns and shapes on both halves of the image.
Symmetry not only creates balance but also draws the viewer’s eye intuitively to the main subject matter located at the visual center of the frame. It’s an easy, straightforward way to construct an evenly weighted composition.
However, strictly symmetrical composition can seem overly rigid or formulaic if used poorly or too often. That’s why many photographers rely more on asymmetrical balance to create interest.
| Symmetrical | Asymmetrical |
|---|---|
| Elements mirrored evenly | Elements distributed unevenly |
| Feels orderly and centered | Feels more casual and relaxed |
| Draws the eye to the middle | Allows a variety of focal points |
How does asymmetry create balance?
With asymmetrical composition, balance is achieved not through strictly mirrored elements but through effectively distributing visual weight and empty space throughout the scene.
Some tips for creating asymmetrical balance include:
– Offsetting a large subject with lots of open space on the other side of the frame.
– Pairing brightly colored subjects against subdued backgrounds.
– Using a few small elements in one corner to balance one large, dominant element in the opposite corner.
– Positioning elements according to the rule of thirds grid rather than strict center framing.
Asymmetrical balance provides more freedom than strict symmetry and can result in compositions that feel more energetic, dynamic and appealing to the eye. Photographers often start with a symmetrical layout and then adjust it slightly for more visual interest.
How does color affect balance?
Color distribution is another important element of creating balance in a photo. When colors are spread out harmoniously throughout the composition, it creates a sense of visual equilibrium.
Tips for using color balance include:
– Complementary colors: Pairing opposite hues from the color wheel creates a pleasing dynamic. Common color pairings like blue and orange or purple and yellow complement each other well.
– Analogous colors: Hues located next to each other on the color wheel, like blue and green, also create balance through color harmony.
– Distributing colors evenly: Scattering a variety of colors throughout the frame rather than clustering similar hues in one area prevents visual weight from becoming too concentrated in any one part of the image.
– Varying saturation: Balancing brightly saturated colors with muted, neutral tones helps avoid overpowering the composition.
Sometimes color contrast or bold color schemes are effective. But harshly contrasting colors can feel unbalanced if not composed carefully.
| Balanced Color Distribution | Unbalanced Color Distribution |
|---|---|
| Colors are spread evenly throughout image | Colors are clustered in one part of image |
| Contains both bright and muted colors | Has mostly bold, saturated colors |
| Uses complementary color combinations | Uses colors that clash |
How do shapes affect balance?
Incorporating a variety of shapes and forms is another way to produce balance within the composition. For example, pairing round or organic shapes with angular geometric ones creates aesthetic balance. Other shape strategies include:
– Circles balanced with straight lines or squares
– Large shapes balanced with small shapes
– Repeating shapes distributed evenly
– Grouping similar shapes in a pattern rather than randomly
Shape variety can provide movement and rhythm. But shapes need to be composed in a way that creates visual flow rather than disconnected clutter. Beginner photographers learning about shape balance can start with simple foreground subject and background pairings.
| Balanced Shape Composition | Unbalanced Shape Composition |
|---|---|
| Combines circles and squares | Mostly geometric shapes |
| Smaller subjects balanced with larger structures | No offsetting of small and large elements |
| Smooth repetition of wavy lines | Random, disorganized mixture of shapes |
How does weight affect balance?
Certain subjects naturally draw the viewer’s eye more than others based on their size, color, contrast, or detail. These visually dominant elements have more perceptual “weight” in the composition. Balance involves offsetting these weighted subjects with negative space or other lighter elements.
Some techniques for balancing weighted subjects include:
– Placing the main subject slightly off-center using the rule of thirds.
– Surrounding a large or eye-catching subject with empty space.
– Balancing a close-up, detailed subject with an underemphasized distant background.
– Pairing a brightly lit subject against a darker background.
– Composing prominent subjects lower or higher in the frame rather than dead center.
If too many dominant elements are clustered together, that part of the image can feel overloaded and unbalanced. Weighting visual elements carefully creates rhythm and invites the eye to move naturally across the composition.
| Balanced Weight Distribution | Unbalanced Weight Distribution |
|---|---|
| Dominant subject offset by negative space | No empty space to balance bold colors |
| Detailed flower balanced by soft blurred background | Many competing detailed elements |
| Bright subject framed subtly against dark background | Everything evenly lit and centered |
How does the rule of thirds create balance?
One of the most straightforward tactics for achieving asymmetrical balance is by composing according to the rule of thirds grid. This involves mentally dividing the frame into horizontal and vertical thirds and placing important compositional elements along the grid lines or at the intersecting points.
The main principles behind the rule of thirds are:
– Placing the horizon line along one of the horizontal grid lines (either the top or bottom third line, avoiding splitting the composition in half vertically).
– Positioning the main subject off-center, where gridlines intersect instead of dead center. This creates balance through uneven spacing.
– Composing so secondary elements align with other grid lines to create visual harmony.
– Framing the subject with more space in the direction they are facing or moving.
Using the rule of thirds grid as a starting point ensures that elements are distributed in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and naturally balanced without becoming too rigid or formulaic.
How does leading lines create balance?
Leading lines are compositional elements that draw the viewer’s eye toward the primary subject or to important parts of the image. Examples include roads, fences, train tracks or any linear element. Using leading lines is an effective technique for guiding viewer focus in an aesthetically balanced way.
Some leading line strategies for balanced compositions:
– Position subjects at the endpoint of leading lines rather than crossing through the middle.
– Use converging lines that point toward the main subject from different directions.
– Frame subjects with curved S-shaped lines rather than straight lines bisecting the image.
– Pair diagonal leading lines with strong vertical or horizontal elements to create stability.
– Compose so the subject aligns with the apex of any V-shaped line formations.
When leading lines are placed carefully, they add energy and purposefully move the viewer’s gaze through the image. Poorly arranged leading lines can inadvertently guide the eye out of the frame or divide the composition awkwardly.
How does depth create balance?
Creative use of depth and perspective can add balance and visual interest. Because distant elements appear smaller, they have less visual weight and impact than foreground elements. Some depth strategies include:
– Balancing detailed close-up subjects against simple blurred backgrounds.
– Shooting wide landscapes with a defined foreground, mid-ground and background.
– Composing from a low angle to emphasize soaring ceilings or high ceilings to emphasize floor patterns.
– Using converging lines, like a long road, receding into the distance to pull the eye through the image.
– Layering semi-transparent objects at varying depths.
– Combining sharp focus and selective focus within the same composition.
– Juxtaposing negative shapes and spaces at varying distances.
– Photographing reflections to double depth and perspective.
When depth is composed intentionally, it adds hidden dimensions that engage the viewer’s eye as they visually move through different planes in the image. Fully utilizing depth helps avoid “flat” looking photos.
How does negative space create balance?
Negative space refers to the empty areas around or between the main subjects or elements. Effective use of negative space contributes greatly to balance in several ways:
– Surrounding the main subject with ample breathing room prevents the composition from feeling cluttered.
– Offsetting detailed subjects with open space balances visual weight.
– Alternating between filled space and empty space creates visual rhythm.
– Smooth expanses of negative space balance out busier or heavier subjects.
– Negative shapes provide framing and balance positive shapes.
– Allowing space in front of moving subjects indicates where they are headed.
Negative space gives the eye a path to follow through the image and prevents compositions from feeling too dense or heavy on one side. Beginners learning about negative space can start by framing subjects against plain backgrounds before progressing to more advanced out of focus backgrounds.
How does cropping and orientation affect balance?
Cropping refers to how tightly or loosely the photographer frames the composition and what elements are included or excluded. Cropping directly impacts balance, so it’s an important consideration.
– Tighter crops naturally put more emphasis on subjects, while looser crops balance subjects within their surroundings.
– Vertical/portrait orientation suits individual subjects. Horizontal/landscape orientation suits wider scenes.
– Cropping can adjust imbalance by anchored elements or including more negative space.
– Changing image orientation from horizontal to vertical or vice versa alters the visual weight distribution.
– Cropping and recomposing the shot allows photographers to improve balance after the initial shot.
Many novice photographers simply frame by intuition. But consciously controlling cropping and orientation helps create perfectly balanced compositions tailored to the subject matter.
Conclusion
Balance involves creatively arranging the elements within a photo’s composition to produce an aesthetically pleasing and harmonious result. Though principles like the rule of thirds, symmetrical framing and distributing colors evenly can help craft balanced images, there is no singular “formula” for balance. Photography is an art. Developing a good eye and intuition for balance comes with practice in actively thinking about compositional elements while taking photos. Mastering balance provides novice photographers with the skills to produce professional quality images that capture the viewer’s eye.
