Beyond Phototips

Let me close off this batch of posts about symmetry with a few images that I think are really beautiful. Each of these photographs have at least of the four kinds of symmetry to thank, because that is why they work… Even if the symmetry is not blatantly obvious.

I invite you to take a good look at the photographs featured here and try to pick out which form of symmetry, Reflection Symmetry, Rotational Symmetry, Translational Symmetry or Glide Reflection Symmetry are responsible for making these pictures stick out.

They’re in no particular order, because each one is as visually stunning as the other. Here you go:

Photo by =TrixyPixie

Photo by `gilad

Photo by `gnato

Photo by ~kil1k

Photo by *ambrosia3

Photo by `gilad

Photo by `foureyes

Photo by `zemotion

Photo by `bosniak

Photo by `foureyes

Photo by `gilad

Photo by `gilad

Photo by ~SuzyTheButcher

Photo by `Davenit

Photo by ~Kleemass

Photo by ~julkusiowa

Photo by ~drmarten

Photo by `zemotion

Photo by `TheTragicTruth-Of-Me

Photo by `gilad

I hope you take the time to look at them and really ’see’ that though many of them don’t use symmetry as the primary tool for composition, they do play very integral roles in the photographs.

Take for example, the beautiful photographs by `TheTragicTruth-Of-Me and `zemotion, “Don’t speak” and “Gone.”. There no apparent symmetry, in lines or reflections, but it is the beautiful symmetry of the faces that cause a viewer to stop and look at the photograph. There’s lots more that can be said, but I’d rather leave it to your mind to stop, and pick out the reason for the beauty of these photographs.

I’d love to hear what you think in the comments.

So, we’ve got a project about SYMMETRY, but just what is symmetry?

Does it just mean a ‘reflection’ of what you see on one side? Here’s a bit more info to help guide the way you look at the world and take photographs for the project.

Now, symmetry in mathematics, physics, geometry and aesthetics has a number of definitions, but lets keep it simple.

The kind of symmetry that we’re most accustomed to is “Reflection”. Along with reflection, the four kinds of symmetry that we most commonly deal with are:

• Reflection Symmetry
• Rotational Symmetry
• Translational Symmetry
• Glide Reflection Symmetry

Reflection Symmetry

OiMax

Photo By: Jsome1

Reflection is what you see in a mirror. The regular layman’s understanding of the word reflection… If a line were drawn (usually vertically) through the axis of the symmetry, each feature or point on one side would be equally distant on the other side of the axis.

Rotational Symmetry

Photo By: Retinafunk

Photo By: cotaro70s

Rotational Symmetry is what you see when a shape or pattern is rotated around a point (also called the origin). To observe it, take a look at earthen pottery or even just a circular plate.

Translational Symmetry

Photo By: *Solar ikon*

Photo By: POSITiv

Photo By: pareeerica

Translational Symmetry is simple to show, but a little complicated to explain. It is as if an object has been slid along a plane. It is not flipped, or rotated about an axis; rather it is as if a duplicate of the object has been created.

Glide Reflection Symmetry

Photo By: Matt McGee

Photo By:  Ryan Holst

A good example of Glide Reflection Symmetry are animal tracks, or human footprints in sand. They are seemingly reflected, but also displaced along the axis.

Wikipedia lists other interesting forms of symmetry, and I encourage you to visit the page for more descriptive explanations. I find Scale Symmetry and Fractals to be of particular interest.

As always, feel free to leave a comment and let me know if you found this useful.

In order to take you photography to the next level, there are some things that you must consider. Photography is a skill; but at some point that skill must be overcome by aesthetic considerations in order to be considered ‘art’. Lets start off with a simple project. One that everyone could take part in, that will help you develop your photographic eye, and help you stock up your photographic bag of tricks.

Symmetry

Symmetry is a key element of nature itself, and more importantly to us, in man, and his creations. In your composition, and in your subject, symmetry brings out simplicity amongst complex shapes, and makes things easier to understand.

Symmetry is everywhere. It is when you look at a perfect square, or a bar of chocolate, when you push all your chairs in at your dinner table, or when you look at a racing car. You see it in your architecture, in domes, in arches, in staircases and in doors. You see it in your computers and cellular phones. It is possible that it also makes things more beautiful to behold, and is hard to ignore once you start looking around… Symmetry is everywhere.

Symmetry is not always the best choice for a subject though, and knowing when to use symmetry to enhance the features of the subject, or the subject of your photograph is something that comes with practice and a critical eye.

Take Part – Show off your Symmetry

To be part of the Photo Project, take three photographs with the theme ’symmetry’ kept in mind. Upload them to Flickr, and add them to the Beyond Phototips Flickr Group with the tag “BPP-symmetry“.

10 days from now, I’ll pick at least one photograph from every participant’s submissions and post them all up here on Beyond Phototips for everyone to see. So be on your toes, and think before pressing that shutter-release button. You don’t want to be showing off anything but your best work, right?

If  you find the process interesting, why not write about it and put it up on your blog so that others can benefit too? If you’ve got any thoughts to share, but just want to jot them down quickly, do leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

Some Examples of Symmetry in Photography

photo credit: James Jordan

photo credit: Netream

photo credit: goandgo

Do let us know what keeps you addicted… Or, are you NOT addicted as yet?

Point and Shoot cameras are notoriously difficult to keep steady in low light situations. Here are a couple of tips that should help you steady your swaying forearms when taking these photographs.

by Capt. Kodak

1. Don’t use the LCD display.

Using the LCD display to compose your photographs is possibly the easiest way to shoot with a digital Point ‘n Shoot, and yes, they dont make the viewfinders the way they used to. But low light conditions are not the best situation to test your forearm stability.

Squash your eye against that viewfinder, and peer into that little glass lens. Doing this supports the camera, and it’s less susceptible to sway (unless you’re drunk).

2. Brace yourself

Steady yourself by leaning against a rigid structure such as a wall or concrete post. Put your back against it, press as much of your body into it as possible. This should get you ready for your low-light hand-held point and shoot photograph.

You could also use a wall, chair or any other appropriate support to rest your camera or hands on when taking the photograph.

3. Slow n Steady…

Remember that this is not a race, the marines have a motto that they follow “slow is smooth, and smooth is fast”. This is true here too. If you’re in less of a hurry to take the photograph and move away, you’re more likely to keep the camera steady and in-position longer. This will give you a steady, shake-free photograph and absolutely no need to take another photograph.

4. Squeeze the ‘trigger’ don’t press

Since photographers use similar terminology (e.g.: I’m going outside to shoot some brilliant photographs), I’m quoting a Firearms guide. Use the same priciples when squeezing your shutter release. It works; no matter whether you’re using a point and shoot or a D-SLR.

Poor shooting is caused by the aim being disturbed before the bullet leaves the barrel of the weapon.  This is usually the result of the shooter jerking the trigger or flinching. Jerking is an effort to fire the weapon at the precise time when the slights align with the target, and flinching is a reflex caused by anticipating recoil.

Trigger squeeze is the independent rearward movement of the trigger finger without disturbance of the sight alignment until the weapon fires.  First, the slack in the trigger is taken up.  You will then hit the break point of the trigger.  Continue applying steadily increasing pressure until the weapon fires.  If the trigger is squeezed properly, you will not know exactly when the weapon will fire; thus, you will tend not to flinch or jerk.

- FirearmsPrimer.com

Squeeze the shutter release, don’t press the button.

5. Breathe right

Shallow, jagged breaths tend to bob your head and upper body up and down, keeping the camera moving at all times, and more likely to blur your photograph. Breathe calmly, in long, deep breaths, and squeeze the shutter release either when you’ve breathed in fully, or let out all the air in your lungs.

This way you will not be gasping for your next breath, and your chest and head will not be in motion.

6. Use a higher ISO

Is this obvious or what? Yes, but many people leave it to their cameras to decide. Some point n shoot cameras have rather shameful high ISO handling, but others are pretty good. Is your camera good for high ISO, low-light photography? Experiment; take some photographs for fun, before you absolutely ‘have to’ so that you know which settings are usable. This will leave you prepared to move to the highest usable ISO when you want / need to.

7. Use the self-timer

This is a good trick. Set up the camera in a stable position on a wall, or table, or hey, just use your mini tripod. Then set up the camera to shoot a photograph by itself, with a timed delay.

This will eliminate photographer-induced (that’s you, matey) shake and (here’s a bonus) you get to be in the photograph too… How cool is that?

Um, that’s it for now.

Do you have a tip that I’ve missed out? Help out your fellow photographers by adding to this list in the comments.

Finally, I’ve been able to properly evaluate and publish the winners of the Beyond Phototips Detail Everywhere competition. We received an un-expected 43 entries, each of them showing your expertise and fondness for photography.

Now, here are the winners; without further ado.

The Winners

Congratulations Aaron Koolen, Gunjan Karun and Ananda Niyogi! You have all won copies of “Fundamentals of Photography” by Tom Ang from the publishers and Aaron has won a $50 Amazon.com gift voucher from BeyondPhototips.com. You have been contacted on flickr and have been requested for your contact details please respond to that message.

Selecting the winners

Selecting the winners was not easy. I wanted to offer a fair chance, un-biased by my personal tastes and prefernces so I got 5 other people whose tastes and opinions varied based on background, age and even profession and asked them to rate each photograph based on 4 criteria. The results were tallied and the images you see above were the winners.

EDIT: I neglected to mention that it was not easy, choosing the winner. 6 judges (me plus 5 others) meant 6 different opinions. The images submitted did not make the choice any easier… I had to tally them up to see which pictures were rated the most and among them which were rated the highest. However, in the end the winners were clearly the ones you see above. Congratulations.

Late announcements

I’m aware that many of you were eagerly awaiting the results of this competition. You have mailed me and left comments on the blog. I do apologise for the delay. Unfortunately, it was un-avoidable. You can, however, expect Beyond Phototips to keep giving you your regular dose of photography tips once again.