As a photographer, do you tend to gravitate towards images with circles, spirals, or radial designs surrounding a central point? If you answered yes, you’re already finding ways to use radial balance in your photography.
If you’re new to the concept of radial balance, here’s a little background on what it is, why it draws a viewer’s attention, and how to achieve it in your shots.
What is Radial Balance?
There are many types of balance in the visual arts. Symmetrical balance occurs when an image or design is mirrored across a horizontal or vertical axis. Asymmetrical balance happens when elements of an image don’t strictly mirror each other, but their placement still creates a sense of visual balance. The rule of thirds often relies on asymmetrical balance.
Radial balance is defined as a type of visual balance where portions of the image radiate or extend from a central point in the frame. It is often symmetrical across both the horizontal and vertical axis, but strict symmetry isn’t always required.
Radial Balance Examples
A bicycle wheel is a great example of an object that features both radial balance and radial symmetry. The wheel’s symmetrical balance spans both the horizontal and vertical central axis. It features several geometric shapes that radiate from a central point, creating visual interest.
Images with symmetrical balance are soothing and pleasing because they traditionally feature symmetrical balance and guide the viewer’s eye to a central focal point. If you’ve never experimented with radial balance or radial symmetry in your photography, it can be a great way to practice observing and capturing multiple principles of design.
The Tradition of Radial Balance in Art
Photography is far from the first art form to use symmetry. Petroglyphs, stone circles like Stonehenge, classic architectural elements like cupolas and spires, stained glass windows, and mandalas all make use of radial balance to create visual weight and engage the viewer’s eye.
Because radial symmetry is so often found in art, you’re subconsciously trained to see it and engage with it, so adding radial balance to your photographic tool kit should be relatively easy.
Where to Look for Radial Balance
Some of the most obvious sources of radial balance are the geometric shapes we see out in the world.
Circular elements are common in nature and architecture, so whether you’re going for a walk on the beach or a stroll in the city, you’ll likely see circular visual elements everywhere. Circles in architecture occur overhead in skylights or domed ceilings, or below in floor tiles, so make sure to look both up and down as you hunt for circles.
Spirals and Other Radial Shapes
Spirals are another great source of symmetrical balance, and they’re easy to find. Have you ever noticed how satisfying it is to photograph a spiral staircase from above? Spirals draw the viewer’s eye around and around through the frame. They are among the most engaging shapes. You can also find spirals in flowers, seashells, and unfurling ferns.
Other interesting geometric shapes like starbursts, octagons, and pinwheels are easy to find with a little practice.
Composing Your Images with Radial Balance in Mind
Once you’ve selected a subject to photograph, look through the viewfinder and experiment with composition.
Does the image feel stronger if the circular element is centered in the frame? How would your shot look if you zoomed in to fill the frame with your subject? Do you need to see the whole subject or does its visual interest carry your eye to the edges of the image and beyond?
Be Creative with Radial Shapes
There’s no right or wrong way to compose a photograph. Just because your subject features radial symmetry doesn’t mean you need to photograph it in a symmetrical way. Sometimes shot will work better with perfect symmetry. Meanwhile, others will work best when shot with asymmetry in mind.
As you practice spotting, exploring, and photographing radial balance, take multiple shots of each subject so you can compare the results later. When you pick a shot that feels right, ask yourself: what is it about the image that works so well? Eventually, photographing radial symmetry will come naturally to you, and you’ll even start to do it subconsciously.
