Compositions (Symmetry, Asymmetry and Balance)

Composition (Symmetry, Asymmetry and Balance)

Composition in photography shows they way that different elements in a photo are arranged within the frame. This week, we studied three new methods of composition: symmetry, asymmetry and balance. Taking a symmetrical photo requires a mirror image on each side of the frame. A symmetrical image could be folded in half and would match up perfectly. Asymmetry requires unequal visual weight on each side of the frame. Something in the photo has to disturb the balance.  Balance is about equal weight on both sides of the frame, but it doesn't need to be a mirror image as in symmetry. When a photo is balanced, the eye isn't drawn to one part of the frame, but sees the whole photo equally. 

Symmetry

Asymmetry

 

Balance

Pictorial Lines

Pictorial Lines

For this project, our focus was on pictorial lines. In order to capture pictorial lines we used three different techniques. The first was leading lines to a subject. This method enhances the subject of the photograph by leading your eye directly to it. The second method we used was decorative lines. This type of photograph has lines in it, but the lines are not the main focus of the photograph. Instead, these lines are used to add another visual element to the photo. The third technique used was arrangement of lines. In this technique, the entire photograph is made up of lines. If the lines were taken away, there would be no subject.  

Leading Lines to a Subject

Decorative Lines

Arrangement of Lines

Depth (leading line, repetition, depth staging)

 Depth (5 each: leading line, repetition, depth staging)

For this project, we were instructed to create photographs that demonstrated depth. We used three techniques to show depth: leading line, repetition and depth staging. A leading line draws the eye into the image by have the subject wind from the front to the back of the photo. An example of this technique is river that moves from the front of the photograph to the back. Repetition is another method for creating depth. Repetition repeats the subject or subjects over and over. The repetition fills up the frame of the photograph. It creates depth by making things in the distance look smaller. Finally, depth staging uses two subjects in order to create a visual that there is space between them. The space creates depth in the photograph. 

Leading Line

Repetition

Depth Staging