Composition Tips – Balance Written by: Tiffany Joyce Balance is
a key concept when composing a photograph. However, “balance”
does not necessarily mean “centered” or “symmetrical”. A
photograph can be balanced even when the subject of focus is to
one side. A photograph can be off-balance even if the subjects
are perfectly aligned. Let’s look at some examples. In the shot
of the glass below, elements of balance are easy to recognize:
The split between white and black in the background provides
vertical balance, and the reflection of the glass on the
tabletop provides horizontal balance. The arrangement of stir
sticks in the glass tie the vertical and horizontal balance
lines together. The fact that the converging lines of balance
are not absolutely perfect prevents this shot from being
clinical and stilted. In this shot, the photographer has
situated the subject off-center: The photographer is using the
doorway in the background to provide balance to the position of
the woman off to the side of the shot. Here