Symmetry, Balance and Asymmetry

Symmetry is when the elements within a photograph balance each other out.

This aesthetic balance is achieved as parts of a composition are arranged from a real or imaginary line drawn in the middle of the photograph.

Radial symmetry is created from a central point within a frame that then radiates balance outward equally in all directions.

Asymmetry Imbalance

Asymmetrical images can display symmetry, but they include an imbalance through visual weight.

In this particular photograph of the Passaic River, the symmetry is in the mirrored reflection that emanates from the horizon line, but it is imbalanced due to its visual weight.