by Editor Swapnil.
Published the 7th of October  2020

 
Symmetry is defined as an exact or almost exact correspondence between a centre line spread along horizontally vertically or sometimes radially.

'A Night at Kirkjufell' by Simon Roppel

Usually in photography we see such symmetry and compose our images along the horizontal or vertical plane giving emphasis to the symmetry in a way that leaves a deep visual impact.

In any case, horizontal and vertical, the compositional balance is maintained along the line divided by the plane, which can be arranged according to rule of thirds, or simply along the Centre. Symmetry can also be achieved by a single element centred in an image, with space on two, three, or all sides.

'Mirror Wave' by Dr. Nicholas Roemmelt

'Standing in a Mirror' by Greg Forcey

'Lost' by Ales Komovec

 
Myriad psychological qualities with this type of symmetry can be associated.
The image may feel peaceful, calm, stable, harmonious, or grounded - especially in bilateral symmetry. Such designs might remind us of geometry and the aesthetics of Renaissance classicism, the artworks of Da Vinci and Michelangelo paintings, which used symmetry and golden ratios to lay a deep impetus on human mind.

Images with symmetrical balance tend to create feelings of order, tradition, classicism, formality, and constancy.

'Above the city' by Jeroen van de Wiel

'Baños de Maria' by Peter Sticza

'Fishnets' by Jose Beut

'Autumn Weather, Autumn Mood' by Yvette Depaepe

'The Profiles of two Women' by Jan Lykke

'Chinese DreamWorld' by Tatiana Gorilovsky

'Colorize the darkness' by Heidi Westum

 

While perfect symmetry satisfies the mind that loves precision and stability, it sometimes can look static, artificial, and boring.

Subtle differences between the two sides add interests, allowing the eye at first to appreciate the overall balance of similarity and then move on to explore the intricate differences between the halves.

This is similar to the mind solving the puzzle of searching differences in the parts of images. Sometimes one or two obvious discrepancies between the two sides add tension that breaks the order and similarity in an interesting or even surprising way.

'somewhere I belong' by Anja Buehrer

'Reflections of luxury' by Luc Vangindertael

'Eternity' by Chris Moore

 

Subtle and more obvious differences between the halves adds “character” to an image. For example, the image showing reflection in a lake can appear similar but it is very distinct if seen closely. A curious person will see the nuances in the ripples, the reflections and any small subjects in water.

'Snowy morning' by Ikuo Iga

'Misty passeggiata' by Stergios

A lot can be deduced in terms of psychologies as to how a person sees the images, perceives the visual tensions and the kind of appeal he feels about the image.

The psychological Rorschach’s test deduces individuals who find solace in the exact symmetry inkblots tend to self reflective and introspective persons.

'Platinum Skies' by Nate Zeman

'lejos... en el reino de los sueños III' by Chus Rodríguez

'Night in the City' by hardibudi

'The Foating Island' by Tais

 

When composing a sky or milky way reflecting in a lake, the vertical composition will lay an emphasis on the scale of the sky and the extent of its height from the horizon.

In the same way reflecting a mountain spread away horizontally lays emphasis on its extent and spread in horizontal way.

Art of composition will depend finally on the artist himself, the way he decides to use wide angle or compresses with telephoto but everyone will at the end try to create a beautiful visual tension using the symmetry and the divisive line used to break the image.

One more amazing aspect of symmetry and reflection is that one can find these in any genres of photography from wedding to wildlife and abstract to architecture.
One just needs an eye to form them and a beautiful compositional element waits for the artist.

Sharing with you some more amazing works from 1x photographers related to symmetry…

'Dully Day' by Bragi Ingibergsson – BRIN

'Out of Time...' by Tatiana Gorilovsky

'january morning' by Bor

n/t by Dirk Heckmann

'Spoons' by Wieteke de Kogel

'Love cherries' by olimage

'Framing' by Angela Muliani Hartojo

'serenity' by Rui David

'Walking to the light' by Jef Van den Houte

'Eye of Stokksnes' by Wojciech Kruczynski