What are the ways to achieve picture balance in photography?

Balance is the basic requirement of picture composition, and it is also an important means to express thoughts and feelings. Why balance? Because our bodies are balanced. This physiological structure forms the psychological demand for balance, so it also determines the visual demand for balance.

Balance means stability and harmony. The first problem of a picture is balance.

Balance can be divided into two forms: absolute balance-symmetry; Relative balance-gravity balance

I. Symmetry

Symmetry, like our body, is a state of balance when the size, shape, color and position of the left and right modeling elements are exactly the same but in opposite directions.

Symmetry is both a way of balance and a form of composition. It has the following properties:

1. Beautiful body structure

The human body is symmetrical, and the human body is actually the most beautiful thing, so when we see the symmetrical picture, we will have a good feeling like seeing the human body. This is the fundamental reason why people like symmetry.

2. Beautiful orders

Symmetrical composition arranges the world into a completely consistent visual style except in the opposite direction, which greatly satisfies our eyes that require order instinct. The picture is repeated on both sides or up and down, echoing each other, forming a strict internal order.

Feeling stable

Because the left and right sides or the upper and lower sides are exactly the same, except that the direction has not changed, it presents a very stable state. We can convey a sense of stability and tranquility from it.

Step 4 feel solemn

The order produced by balance, the stability produced by order, and the grandeur produced by stability. Symmetrical composition is often used in ritualized scenes because symmetry can show that special emotional atmosphere. Religious ceremonies, important gatherings and activities in movies are usually symmetrical as long as they are to show grandeur and solemnity.

feel frustrated

It is precisely because symmetry can express the feeling of stability, tranquility and solemnity. If a symmetrical shot lasts for a long time, or appears many times, the mood will turn into depression and boredom.

Two. Gravity balance

Gravity balance is like the relationship between the scale and the weight. Although it is not exactly the same as symmetry, it is still the overall balance formed by the mutual support or cancellation of various elements and gravity on the screen.

The factors that affect the gravity balance include: color, hue, direction of sight, area and position. Among them, the most important ones are: the direction, area and position of the line of sight.

1. Balance of single-element images

The main factor affecting the single element balance is the direction of sight. Usually, a large space should be left in front of the line of sight to achieve a balance with the line of sight.

2. Balance of multi-element pictures

The main factors affecting the multi-element balance are area and position. Multi-element picture balance is mainly manifested in three aspects: central balance, up-down balance and left-right balance.

(1) Central Balance

The principle of balance in the center of composition processing is to make the object area in the center larger than that on both sides.

(2) Balance up and down

The principle of balancing up and down in composition processing is to make the area of the lower object larger than that of the upper one.

(3) Left-right balance

When composing a composition, you should put the larger object on the left and the smaller object on the right.

Three. Attitude towards balance

In film and television works, unbalanced composition is often used as a means to express special thoughts and feelings. Using unbalanced composition, there are roughly three methods:

The first is the unbalanced layout method. The unbalanced mode was consciously used at the beginning of the picture. This is the most common method.

The second is the method of destroying the balance. The camera was balanced at first. During the performance, when one of the characters paints or enters the painting, the original balanced pattern is destroyed, resulting in a sense of imbalance, forming a special pattern and expressing special intentions.

The third type is an oblique picture frame. The picture itself is a balanced balance. As soon as it tilts, everything that was originally balanced in it will lose its balance, thus forming a turbulent and chaotic trend. Directors often use this method to express the subjective feelings of those who are unbalanced.

A Summary of Liu's The Artistic Realm of Film and Television Photography