Let's look at 'Balance'
Perhaps you have worked with scales like these in numeracy:
Perhaps you have worked with scales like these in numeracy:
A.
B.
The scales in picture A are balanced.
Each of the two dishes has the same
weight in it. Notice, if you can, that the
upright, vertical bar is in the middle
and the horizontal, cross-wise bar is
level.
Each of the two dishes has the same
weight in it. Notice, if you can, that the
upright, vertical bar is in the middle
and the horizontal, cross-wise bar is
level.
The scales in picture B are
unbalanced. The lower dish has more
weight in it. The vertical bar is still as it
was. The cross-bar forms an angle.
unbalanced. The lower dish has more
weight in it. The vertical bar is still as it
was. The cross-bar forms an angle.
Just out of interest, I wonder which of those two pictures you
think is the best, the most interesting to look at?
think is the best, the most interesting to look at?
In Picture A, here, of a sort of see-saw
shape, the design is balanced and
symmetrical.
shape, the design is balanced and
symmetrical.
In Picture B, the design is UNbalanced
and Asymmetrical.
and Asymmetrical.
Does asymmetrical (assimetrickul) simply mean the same as
unbalanced?
unbalanced?
No.
If we fold the design along the black
line down the middle, one side is a
mirror image of the other in a
symmetrical design or object. Folded
over, the two halves of the design
would exactly overlap
If we fold the design along the black
line down the middle, one side is a
mirror image of the other in a
symmetrical design or object. Folded
over, the two halves of the design
would exactly overlap
If something is asymetrical,
and we fold the design along a line
down the middle, the sides are not
mirror images of each other. Folded
over, the two halves of the design
would not exactly overlap
and we fold the design along a line
down the middle, the sides are not
mirror images of each other. Folded
over, the two halves of the design
would not exactly overlap
Few things in natural life are actually symmetrical.
One of the best examples of natural asymmetry is he human face.
One of the best examples of natural asymmetry is he human face.
This is the natural face of a small child.
It is asymmetrical.
In the picture below I have made the
face symmetrical. One side of a line
drawn down the middle would be the
mirror image of the other.
The symmetrical face looks weird, to
me. What do you think?
The eyes in the second picture are
exactly the same and exactly level, the
ears, too. Strange stuff indeed.
It is asymmetrical.
In the picture below I have made the
face symmetrical. One side of a line
drawn down the middle would be the
mirror image of the other.
The symmetrical face looks weird, to
me. What do you think?
The eyes in the second picture are
exactly the same and exactly level, the
ears, too. Strange stuff indeed.
Remember: the human brain likes asymmetry. The human brain does
not like to look so much at things that are perfectly balanced. Something is not
symmetrical or is asymmetrical when, if a line is drawn down the middle, the two
sides do not make a mirror image of each other. Your sheet of paper, your
desktop, is probably symmetrical.
not like to look so much at things that are perfectly balanced. Something is not
symmetrical or is asymmetrical when, if a line is drawn down the middle, the two
sides do not make a mirror image of each other. Your sheet of paper, your
desktop, is probably symmetrical.
In another part of 'Composition' we are going to look at the
'Rule of Thirds', which helps us use asymmetry to make
our pictures more interesting.
Clicking here will take you to the Rule of Thirds page.
'Rule of Thirds', which helps us use asymmetry to make
our pictures more interesting.
Clicking here will take you to the Rule of Thirds page.
| Composing your picture, symmetry and balance. Left click to enlarge the image, further enlarge with the expansion button if necessary, then copy to an application, or save the file. Many of these files are too big to print without manipulation. |
A.
B.
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