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