Part 1 - Exercise 6 - Balance

Part 1 - Exercise 6 - Balance


In this exercise I was to examine 6 of my previously taken photographs and try and find the balance in them.

Each image has what I think are the dominant parts marked by red boxes and a 'weighing scale' interpretation is sketched below.

Image 1

Image 1 has 3 dominant areas, which I feel almost form an S shape as the iron staircase and shadow twist and curve from corner to corner. The drop off of the shadow in the bottom right would leave the image slightly unbalanced if it wasn't for the supporting pole above it which helps even the whole thing out.

Image 2

Here image 2 is a simpler composition with the twisting path surrounded almost in symmetry by the trees either side. The more dense trees on the left help balance the more dominant trees on the right which are more in the foreground. The path starting left of centre snaking through to the centre also helps to make the image a straightforward symmetrical composition.

Image 3

Image 3 has a dominant subject just off centre to the right and in the foreground. The balance has to come from the slightly further back mushrooms running from centre to left edge. 

Image 4

Here again the image is almost symmetrical although this time the 2 dominant balloons to the right, 1 in the foreground and the other in the background balance out the larger more dominant balloon on the right and very much in the foreground.

Image 5

Image 5 has a large dominant tree just left of centre being balanced by the smaller 4 figures spread out from centre to the right edge. 

Image 6

In image 6 I found it harder to try and find balance. All I could find was possibly the dark clouds in the top left down to the sea horizon balances the taller figure of the child on the right foreground.

I have to admit, I found this exercise hard to get my head around. I understood the idea of balance but to look for it I found difficult. Although after completing it I now understand the point of the exercise because after studying not only these chosen images but many other from my collection, I feel I am already looking at images differently and trying to figure out the reasons for balance instead of just looking at an image and getting a feeling that it is balanced. 

This exercise has definitely been very informative and I feel I am already getting the benefits of this course by studying and examining my and other photographers images in a lot more depth. This is making my viewing much more enjoyable and exciting.

As is stated in the notes, I agree that a simpler composition with fewer and more distinct elements are more obvious in showing the balance.