The aim of this exercise was to take a look at any photographs I've have already taken and decide how the balance works in each one of them.
When referring to balance in a photograph it applies to as much as what you see as to the actual physical objects. Therefore colour, differing areas of tone and or between an object and a background can all effect balance.
Having looked through my photograph collection I have picked the following images to, hopefully try to demonstrate symmetrical and dynamic balance.
Image 1
Image 1 has two unequal objects the window to the left of centre and the chimney to the right. As the chimney is placed near the edge of the frame it balances out the larger window. This is an example of symmetrical balance whereby everything falls equally away from the middle of the photograph.
Image 2
Image 2 was take on a visit to the Eden Project in Cornwall, as the subject has been placed central in the photograph, creating maximum symmetry as the lines radiate from the centre giving symmetry on all axis.
After studying image 2 further, the Bio Domes that are visible in the top left of the photograph may alter the balance slightly, in image 2.1 I have re drawn the weighing scale taking into account the Bio Domes, and as the scale suggest the photograph now has dynamic balance with regard to the principles applied in this exercise, I feel that the domes in the background give the photograph depth and visual tension to the viewer.
Image 3
Image 3 was taken on a cold February day in St Ives, Cornwall, the rear of the fishing boat in the foreground is the larger of the two subjects present in the photograph. Even though the remainder of the boat goes out shot to the right, the stern rudder is near centre of the photograph and the row of houses in the background are slightly smaller and nearer the top of the frame, thus in my opinion creating symmetry and balance in the photograph.
Image 4
Image 4 was taken about 3 years ago at Foggintor quarry, near Princetown, Dartmoor. The ruined building is the major focus point in the photograph. This in an unbalanced composition, as depicted in the weighing scale. In this photograph the eye would search for balance, either towards the sunset to the left or to the ridges and rocks bottom left or the granite boulders in the foreground.
Michael Freeman (2007) 'The Photographers Eye', "This process of trying to compensate for an obvious asymmetry in an image is what creates visual tension, and it can be very useful indeed in making a picture more dynamic".
Image 5
Image 5 was taken last year when I was practicing product photography and experimenting with off camera flash. Having looked at it with regard to this exercise, the eye is drawn to the full Bourbon glass in foreground, then as in image 4, the eye would search for visual balance, either to the bottle on its side to the left or the one directly behind it. The visual tension created in this photograph, is in my opinion more effective than having symmetrical balance.
Michael Freeman (2007) 'The Photographers Eye', "An expressive picture is by no means always harmonious"
Image 6
Image 6 was taken on a recent trip to Betws y Coed in North Wales, the focus points being the waterfall which is placed near the centre of the photograph and the houses and trees at the top of the photograph
The waterfall, is definitely the larger of the two subjects in the photograph and I composed it so that the viewer would be drawn to the waterfall before looking at the setting, i.e the houses and trees in the background. This is another example of dynamic balance. The eye tends naturally to look for good balance in image 6, I wanted to create the tension between the waterfall and the setting.
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