So if you have a shot of a mountain with its reflection, instead of positioning the horizon/reflection line toward the top or the bottom of the frame (as the rule of thirds would suggest), try putting it smack dab in the middle of the shot!Īnd if you’re photographing a radially symmetrical flower, instead of positioning the flower off to one side at a rule of thirds intersection point, go ahead and put the flower in the middle of the frame. The image will turn out beautifully balanced! 2. Positioning the line of reflection in the center of your photo isn’t always necessary, but it often does work well because it emphasizes the bold, balanced nature of reflective compositions. Place the Line of Reflection in the Center of Your Photo Now let’s take a look at some quick tips for improving your compositions: 1. Tips for Using the Technique in Your Photos You can also find symmetry that doesn’t rely on reflective objects – in nature, for example, or even across different parts of the scene, such as when you have one person on the left side of the frame and another person on the right. Symmetry is everywhere, but it can take a clever eye to find it. I recommend looking for reflective objects, such as puddles, ponds, glass windows, and metal car hoods these often work great, assuming you carefully frame your compositions (see the tips I give below!). How Can You Find Symmetry for Your Compositions? It’s not necessarily even obvious to the viewer that the reflection is there. But each side of the frame will be carefully balanced, which is why it’s worth pursuing. So keep learning and applying your knowledge of symmetry in every building you see.Golden Triangle Photography Fill the Frame to Improve Your Compositions Simplicity in Photography: Why Simple Photos Are Usually Best It also presents us with a range of design possibilities. Understanding the importance of symmetry in design gives us a clear idea of how various components are interrelated. Symmetry is both an expression and the driving force behind the development of design and prosperity in society. Spiral staircase Image source: Conclusion You will usually find this symmetry in winding staircases. If you transpose the previous similarity symmetry onto multiple levels of the space yet do not take up the entire region, you will end up with a spiral form. This symmetry often shrinks structures to create a higher order of unity in their composition, just like in the Opera House in Sydney. So keep reading ahead as we discuss in detail!Ī similar symmetry is the retention of form when elements get repeated but their scale changes.

In this article, we will cover the importance of symmetry in design, its significance, and how you can achieve it.

For instance: the arrangement of floor tiles in symmetrical patterns, symmetrical placement of doors and window panels, one façade of a building mirroring the other while keeping the entrance in the middle, and more. It has become a notable sign of thoughtful consideration.

Symmetry in design is prevalent in so many ways. You can also find symmetry in the works of contemporary architects like FL Wright, Louis Kahn, and Santiago Calatrava. Symmetry has been used in architecture for thousands of years as an integral part of the design– from the Pyramids in Egypt to the Taj Mahal, from the temples in Asia to ancient Greece, as well as many cities of the world today. Do you look at elegant structures and wonder how they can be so effortlessly beautiful? Or what would those structures look like if they were proportioned differently? Why are symmetrical buildings so satisfying? You will get your answer to all these questions if you conceive the importance of symmetry in design.

Effects of symmetry in art