Balance

In nature there is a natural balance or harmony of texture, shape, form and color. Manyobjects upset this balance and impair the visual relationship between one object and another.It is this control of balance by the photographer, whether to achieve harmony or discord, thatdetermines the level of acceptance of an image by the viewer. As humans we naturally gravitate towards a balanced image (symmetrical).

When there is symmetry between the elements within the frame the image is said to have a sense of balance. A balanced image although pleasing to the eye can sometimes appear bland and conservative. Knowing this a photographer can change the balance of an image to achieve a different result. A dominant element of balance is visual weight created by the distribution of light and dark tones within the frame. To frame a large dark tone on one side of the image and place tones of equal visual weight on the other side will create an imbalance. An unbalanced image (asymmetrical) will often create visual tension,
interest and a sense of things not being as they should be. The communication of harmony or tension is the deciding factor when composing an image intended to convey a specific message.