Exercise 11. Balance

I am to look at the photographs I have already taken, and consider how if at all the balance works in each.  To achieve this I should look at seeing things in more than one way.
Good balance is a guideline for a better picture composition, the arrangement of shapes, colours or areas of dark and light compliment one another.
Technically if I place the subject of interest on one side of the photograph, there is no balance as there is nothing to look at on the other side of photograph. This creates an unbalanced image.
Larger objects, could be counterbalanced with smaller objects.
Several considerations to think about when looking at a well balanced photograph.


Rule of thirds
Texture - Characteristics of a surface
Colour
Shape - Form or structure
Dark and Light
Space - Expanse
Small and large

Fig 1    1/250sec    f/8.0    ISO 200    

Colour Balance. The small area of blue water is balanced with the larger areas of green

Rule of thirds.  This has been equally divided into three along the horizontal lines.

(South Africa)

Fig 2    1/250 sec    f/4.5    ISO 100

Shape. The large central flat area of vineyard, is balanced by the small irregular shaped foliage in the foreground and also the much smaller triangular field to the right.

The lines created by the rows of vineyards lead the eye through to the centre of the photograph and to the field beyond.

(South Africa)

Fig 3    1/320 sec    f/9.0    ISO 125

Large against small.  The height and breadth of the mosque wall is the larger element in this image and is balanced towards the front by the low shrubbery and foliage, which is positioned to the side

Rule of thirds. Normally the subject that is in the foreground is more prominent, here the rule of thirds has reduced that effect.

(Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque)

Fig 4    1/500 sec    f/4.5    ISO 100 

Dark and Light.  The dark reflection, is balanced by the light triangular area, it has created.

The Minaret being high and narrow, is balanced by the larger building to the front of it.  

(Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat)

Fig 5     1/250 sec    f/8.0  ISO 100

Dark and Light. The dark foreground balances the light on the mountain and Jilali Fort.

Rule of thirds.  Subject has been placed at point and line in this image

(Old Muscat)

Fig 6    1/500 sec     f/4.5     ISO 200 

Colour.  The small area of blue, is balanced by the dark tones of background foliage.

(Thailand)

Fig 7     1/20 sec     f/5.6     ISO 200

Textures. The rough texture in the background, has balanced the larger area with the smooth untextured surface of the pot.

Shape.  The curves of the flowers are complimented with the curves of the pot, curved flower stem, and balanced by the straight lines of the tall stems and lines on the wooden steps.

Colour.  Primary colours, red, yellow and blue, balanced with secondary colours, green and violet.

(Thailand)

Fig 8     1/60 sec     F/5.6     ISO 400 

Large and small. The large element of this photograph is counterbalanced by the two smaller elements.

(Cyprus)

My thoughts on this exercise.

• I found the exercise quite difficult, I chose to look at several of the design elements in well composed balanced photograph. Shape, Light and dark, Texture, Large and small and Colour.
•  Tried to find photographs taken in other parts of the world as they show a different light from the glaring white sunlight here in Oman.  
• This was very time consuming, and  from this exercise, I have been able to identify that I need to look at balance more closely when taking a photograph. 
• Informal balance gives the viewer more to look at and appreciate, good balance makes images more appealing.
• Creating a well balanced photograph will require me to work at seeing things in more than one way.
• Looking at not just the primary subject but also the secondary subject will improve my photographs.