Blog Entry: Composition Technique – Balance & Symmetry
This blog explores the question: What is balance & symmetry in photography?
We’ll break down how harmony, balance, and symmetry are used as artistic elements to improve your photographs and elevate your composition skills.
Understanding Balance
Balance is a compositional technique where elements within a frame have equal visual weight. When each part of a photograph commands attention equally, perfect balance is achieved. Key elements to consider for creating balance include:
Colour: Harmonise colours across your photograph.
Light vs Shadow: Pay attention to exposure and how light is distributed.
Texture: Balance different textures for visual interest.
Visual Weight: Ensure elements draw attention proportionally.
Subject Placement: Align objects thoughtfully (see my Rule of Thirds blog for guidance).
Depth of Field & Negative Space: Manage focus and empty space to create equilibrium.
These 8 elements are used widely in artwork, film, interior design, and architecture, and mastering them ensures your photographs feel balanced and visually appealing.
Now that you have listened to these explanations per photo I want to explain symmetry.
Understanding Balance and Symmetry
Take further reading on this subject
Understanding Symmetry
Symmetry is the visual quality of repeating parts of an image across an axis, path, or around a center. For example, in Photoshop, a mountain image can be mirrored to create equal sides, demonstrating vertical symmetry.
Types of symmetry:
Vertical Symmetry
Horizontal Symmetry
Radial Symmetry
Symmetrical balance occurs when both sides of a frame have equal weight, often mirroring each other. Asymmetrical balance, on the other hand, uses different visual elements on each side but still achieves harmony through the 8 balance elements above.
Original Photograph
Video of the process below
Edited photograph, to show symmetry
The above example shows vertical symmetry, but there are two types of symmetry and these are:
HORIZONTAL SYMMETRY
RADIAL SYMMETRY
The question that I wish to answer within this blog is, What is balance & symmetry in photography?
Understanding both balance and symmetry allows you to create symmetrical balance, which is visually striking, and experiment with asymmetrical balance, which can feel more dynamic. These techniques are particularly effective for architectural photography, bridges, and buildings, but they can also enhance everyday compositions.
Take look at these examples
To answer the question of the blog, you need to learn about asymmetrical balance, as this occurs when you have different visual images on either side of the design, and yet the image still seems balanced. This is the opposite of symmetrical balance as the images still show the key balance areas covered in the balance section of the blog and the symmetry.
Take a look at these examples.
Texture
An example of asymmetrical balance and the balance texture element, with equal areas of two different textured surfaces.
Visual Weight
An example of asymmetrical balance & you can visually see that the balance element used is visual weight, as the two objects are different in proportion to one another.
Subject Placement
An example of asymmetrical balance and the balance element, is subject placement, with the bike and window aligned up with the rule of thirds grid.
Summary
So the main answer to the question of What is balance & symmetry in photography?
Well, you can take photographs that link to each composition technique, separately or together. Visually the asymmetrical balance adds to the quality of your photograph and this covers all of the 8 ways to use balance in your photography. Any composition technique is always used to improve the visual appearance of your photographs. This leads to the answer, understanding what each means, and beginning to use them to take amazing photographs. Just remember that balance harmony & symmetry are artistic elements that add to your photography. The main thing is to make sure that you understand how to include these in your photographic practice and this comes with experimentation and practice. So I have included some ways to play with these composition techniques at home.
Practicing at Home
Tips to practice balance and symmetry at home:
Find symmetrical subjects (doorways, rows of windows, shelves of books).
Use a square format on your iPhone for easier alignment.
Use a tripod where possible.
Experiment with reflections in puddles, lakes, or other flat surfaces.
Capture objects like bicycles, plants, or household arrangements to practice asymmetrical balance.
For further inspiration, see these resources:
Ready to Elevate Your Photography?
Now that you’ve explored balance and symmetry, it’s time to put these techniques into practice:
Capture photos showcasing both symmetrical and asymmetrical balance.
Experiment with the 8 key balance elements: colour, light, texture, visual weight, subject placement, depth of field, and negative space.
Play with vertical, horizontal, and radial symmetry for stunning compositions.
Whether you’re interested in one-to-one photography tuition in Northamptonshire, hands-on guidance can accelerate your skills and help you see the world in a new way.
Book your 1:1 session today and start transforming your photography. Bring your creative vision to life, one shot at a time!
