Balance

Balance in the image - taking six photographs from previous exercises I re-examined how the balance works in each one.

As per the course notes it is easier to see how the balance and elements that make it up appear within the shot.

As can be seen in the shot above, the main element of the main object is in the middle with two lesser elements "weighting" the edges of the image. This works as the main object is filling the frame and is symmetrical. This balance works best with objects like this.

With an even simpler image this is more evident. As the main element shifts the weight of the image towards the right as viewed it "pulls" the viewers eyes naturally across the image.

The whole concept of balance within the image actually does follow the same as a balance in the physical world. As can be seen above the weight of the left of the image is balanced by a lesser group of elements closer to the centre point making the image appear more balanced.

However this does not always work, if the weight is too far in any direction the balance will be lost.

By moving or cropping in closer you can adjust the balance by equally weighting the elements within the image.

However some "simple" images become complicated by having divisions of weighting within the elements as can be seen above. essentially it is two equally weighted areas but the top element consists of several items to provide the weight while the lower equally sized and weighted area is one large item.

In Landscapes I find that the balance is sometimes achieved by many heavy elements allowing a smaller item to be the point of balance.

In conclusion balance may achieved by framing and considering the main elements of composition. How the weight is distributed and how the balance is "tipped" can determine how the image is viewed.