Balance is one of the critical aspects that makes or breaks a photograph. Balance can mean a photo has great aesthetic appeal, whereas an unbalanced shot can be uncomfortable to view.

Balance in a photo can be achieved in many ways. Likely the most obvious is a symmetrical shot, in which a photo is essentially a mirror image from top to bottom or left to right. However, you can also use visual weight and a subject’s relative size to create a sense of balance. Let’s explore how you can use each method to achieve a well-balanced photo for today’s challenge.

Go Symmetrical

While it might seem like creating a symmetrical image would be the easiest way to achieve balance, this is certainly not the case. In fact, composing a symmetrical image takes a great deal of patience and attention to detail.

For example, when composing a symmetrical shot you’ll need to ensure that the line of symmetry, or the center point of the shot, is equidistant from the edges of the frame. A slight deviation from center will be noticeable to a critical eye, and will destroy the symmetry in the image. Note that in the image above, each element is a perfect mirror on both sides of the shot, from the lines on the walls to the escalator rails to the lighting in the background. The image might look effortless, but it took a considerable amount of time to get just right.

Use Visual Weight

The term visual weight refers to the “heaviness” of elements in a photograph. An object’s visual weight is determined by several factors, including its color and contrast. In the image above, the bright color of the foliage gives it great visual weight, while the lack of brightness in the pond gives it a nice counterbalance to the foliage.

The image above demonstrates the principle of visual weight as well. The road and the sun are probably the first elements in the photo that you notice. The sun has a substantial amount of visual weight because of its brightness and color. Conversely, the road has a lot of weight in the frame because it is much closer in the frame and because of its lightness compared to the rest of the foreground and mid-ground of the shot. The result is a photo that is well balanced, even though the sun and the driveway carry visual weight for different reasons.

Think About Size

You can also bring balance to your photos by taking the size of the elements in the frame into consideration.

In this image, the sheer size of the tree trunk and the tree limbs offers a more balanced shot. Without them, this image would be heavy on the left side with all the oranges in the leaves, and the other trees peeking through the branches.

Size can also be used to achieve greater balance by altering your perspective to make a small object look bigger and a big object look smaller. In the image above, the people in the background are obviously much bigger than the Godzilla toy in the foreground. But because of the way the photographer framed the shot, with Godzilla nearest to the camera and the people farther away, there is still a great sense of visual balance.

Practice and Participate!

Composing a balanced photo means that it will be far more visually appealing to viewers. Rather than being drawn immediately to one side of an image, an image with balance allows the viewer to take in the whole scene without getting stuck in any one place.

Symmetry is a great way to achieve balance, but it can be difficult to achieve. If going that route, you must be absolutely certain that the elements in the photo are indeed equidistant from the edges of the frame. You can also use visual weight, an object’s color or contrast, for example, to create balance. Playing with the appearance of an element’s size can create a greater sense of balance as well.

Use the images we’ve included here as fodder for your own creativity and inspiration, and go out and create images that highlight great balance. The forum thread for today’s challenge is open and ready for your best photos!