We are drawn to symmetry and balance in many parts of life, and we feel comfortable with patterns that mirror themselves. Photographs are no exception. A symmetrical composition is pleasing to look at, and when a picture is taken with symmetry in mind the result can be beautiful.
Symmetry brings a sense of order and calm to an image. It is also striking, and it leads the viewer's eye to the centre of the picture, or along its axis.
Precision
Symmetry works only when it is accurate. We notice even small misalignments, so set up the shot with care. Stand exactly on the centre line, hold the camera level, and use the grid lines on your screen to check.
A little can be corrected by cropping and straightening afterwards, but getting it right at the time saves a lot of editing. Use a tripod if you can, or brace your elbows against something solid.
Pattern and shape
Our eyes are drawn to patterns and shapes. Look for them around you: tiled floors, staircases, the fronts of buildings. Nature is full of them too. Many flowers have petals arranged in a regular pattern, and leaves and seed heads repeat the same shapes, which is why plant forms turn up so often in architecture.
Reflections
A reflection gives you symmetry ready-made. Still water is the obvious choice, but mirrors, glass, polished metal and ice all work.
Hold the camera low, close to the surface, so that the scene and its reflection fill equal halves of the frame. Check what else is reflected, including yourself, before you press the button.
Leading lines
Leading lines draw the eye into a picture. Roads, railway tracks, rivers, fences and corridors are common examples. Seen from the centre, they converge on a single point and make a strongly symmetrical image.
Lines do not have to be straight. A smooth, gradual curve leads the eye just as well.
Repetition
Repetition gives a picture rhythm. Rows of trees, columns, arches, windows and lines of people all repeat a shape across the frame, and when they repeat evenly on both sides, they create symmetry.
It can be very effective to break the pattern once. A single figure in a row of empty arches, or one open window among closed ones, gives the eye somewhere to rest.
Frames within the picture
Framing your subject inside the photograph focuses attention on it and adds depth. Doorways, windows, arches and overhanging branches all make natural frames. Stand square to a doorway or an arch and you have symmetry and a frame at once.
We hope these tips help you take some eye-catching photos. When you have one you are proud of, our made-to-measure picture frames will give it the frame it deserves, and we are glad to advise on the best choice.
Call EasyFrame on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are happy to talk it through even if you do not want to buy.