essential skills: digital photography in available light
Balance
In addition to content a variety of visual elements such as line, color and tone often infl uence a
photographer’s framing of an image. The eye naturally or intuitively seeks to create a symmetry
or a harmonious relationship between these elements within the frame. When this is achieved the
image is said to have a sense of balance. The most dominant element of balance is visual weight
created by the distribution of light and dark tones within the frame. To frame a large dark tone on
one side of the image and not seek to place tones of equal visual weight on the other side will
create imbalance in the image. An image that is not balanced may appear heavy on one side.
Visual tension is created within an image that is not balanced. Balance, although calming to the
eye, is not always necessary to create an effective image. Communication of harmony or tension
is the deciding factor of whether balance is desirable in the image.
ACTIVITY 3
- Collect one image where the photographer has placed the main subject off-centre and
retained a sense of balance and one image where the photographer has placed the main subject
off-centre and created a sense of imbalance.
Comment on the possible intentions of the photographer in creating each image. - Create an image where the focal point and/or visual weight is off-centre. Discuss the balance
of this image.
Itti Karuson