Balance in Photography

Design + Arts Principles

Art, design, and photography are linked together in many ways. Many of the principles that we use every day in photography are handed down to us from the great master painters and artists of the ages.

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The principles have been used by drawers and painters for hundreds of years. Graphic designers study them and apply them to all of their work. And, whether they realize it or not, photographers use them constantly as well. 

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Design + Arts Principles

The seven basic principles include the following:

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• Balance

• Space

• Emphasis

• Movement

• Contrast

• Pattern or Repetition

• Unity or Harmony

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​Unlike painters, photographers don’t physically create the objects we capture. However, transferring them from the three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional canvas is the same

Multiple Choice

How many primary design and arts principles are there?

• 3

• 10

• 2

• 7

Balance in Photography

By Isha Gaines

Symmetrical Balance

symmetrical balance is the most common way to photograph an image. After all, it’s natural for people to place their main subjects in the center of the image. 

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Professionals and photography workshops often advise new photographers to avoid shooting their subjects front and center, preferring a more off-center approach

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a symmetrically balanced composition works perfectly to give the main subject some visual emphasis and appeal.

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Symmetrical Balance

In symmetrically balanced photos, both sides of the frame have equal weight, and each side may even mirror the opposite side. Sometimes subjects are surrounded with negative space to provide more emphasis and impact.

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Subjects are intentionally centered to look perfectly symmetrical when split horizontally or vertically in half.

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Multiple Choice

Images with Symmetry are NOT....

• have equal weight in the frame

• centered

• places emphasis on the subject

• asymmetrical

Asymmetrical Balance

Asymmetrical balance requires intentionally placing your subject off-center. 

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rule of thirds is a great example of Asymmetrical balance. This technique suggests that the most interesting location for an image’s focal point lies one third in from either edge of the frame and one third down from the top or up from the bottom. 

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The best way to visualize this idea is to imagine a tic-tac-toe board drawn across your image. The best place for the focal point when using asymmetrical balance is at the intersection of any two lines.

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rule of thirds

Radial Balance

Visual elements are arranged around a central point in the composition, like the spokes on a bicycle wheel. Often, radially balanced designs are circular

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Multiple Choice

asymmetrical balance is off centered

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

what is rule of thirds?

• resembles a

  tic-tac-toe board that's imaginary and drawn across the image

• a technique that uses symmetry

Color Balance

Another interesting way to create balance is by using colors. As you can imagine, a photo with too many vibrant colors, such as reds and oranges, may make an image look overwhelming.

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Color balance can be achieved by balancing out a small area of vibrant color with a larger area of neutral or more pastel colors, and vice versa.

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Tonal Balance

This kind of balance is best observed in monochromatic or black and white images where different tones are easily distinguishable. 

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tonal balance is seen in terms of contrast between lighter and darker areas within an image.

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Conceptual Balance

Two subjects complement each other and are different beyond size, shape and form. In many cases, conceptual balance is achieved in an image where there are two contrasting textures or meanings behind its subjects

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Open Ended

Give your own conceptual balance idea that you could capture?

Multiple Choice

What kind of balance is displayed?

• Asymmetrical Balance

• Symmetrical Balance

• Color Balance

• Tonal Balance

Multiple Choice

What kind of balance is displayed?

• Asymmetrical Balance

• Symmetrical Balance

• Color Balance

• Tonal Balance

Multiple Choice

What kind of balance is displayed?

• Asymmetrical Balance

• Symmetrical Balance

• Color Balance

• Tonal Balance

Multiple Choice

What kind of balance is displayed?

• Asymmetrical Balance

• Symmetrical Balance

• Color Balance

• Tonal Balance

​guided practice: in pairs of two, you will choose between symmetry OR radial symmetry and capture one photo.

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rules: has to be within the classroom (a confined space)

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you will have 10 minutes to capture, 10 minutes to upload so we can VOTE and share

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once on the board: ​

we will call out which kind of balance is demonstrated​

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independent practice: you will capture the (6) kinds of balance, edit in photoshop and present in a canva.com PDF presentation