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WHAT IS AN ASYMMETRICAL PHOTO

COMPOSITION AND HOW IS IT USED?
Quick Guide
Written by Jo Plumridge
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 Composition rules in photography are guidelines Here’s what we’ll cover:
that help you to shoot images that are balanced and
visually appealing. Asymmetrical balance is one of · What is asymmetrical balance?
those composition techniques, and one that you may · What’s the difference between asymmetrical,
have already used without realizing. symmetrical, and radial balance?
In this guide I’ll tell you all about asymmetrical · Tips for achieving asymmetrical balance in your
balance and how to use it to improve your image images.
composition.
Recommended Reading: If you’d like to
improve your composition skills for better
images, grab a copy of Photzy’s best-selling
premium guide: Understanding Composition.

WHAT IS AN ASYMMETRICAL PHOTO COMPOSITION AND HOW IS IT USED? // © PHOTZY.COM 3

 WHAT IS ASYMMETRICAL BALANCE?

An asymmetrical photo composition has unequal Asymmetrical balance may have unequal visual
visual weight on either side. This means that each weight, but those visual elements still balance each
object, tone, and shape in an image attracts more other out and the resulting photo will still follow the
or less attention from a viewer (visual weight). rules of composition.

WHAT IS AN ASYMMETRICAL PHOTO COMPOSITION AND HOW IS IT USED? // © PHOTZY.COM 4

 WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN ASYMMETRICAL,
SYMMETRICAL, AND
RADIAL BALANCE?

As I’ve already explained, asymmetrical

balance in photography has two sides
where the visual weight is unequal, but
these elements still balance each other
out.

Key Lesson: Symmetrical

balance in photography is where the
two sides of the image mirror each
other, such as reflections in a lake.
Photographing a face could also be
considered symmetrical photography
as, although the two sides of a face
are not identical, they’re considered
Photograph by Jazmin Quaynor close enough to be symmetrical.
Negative space is a simple and clean way to create an asymmetrically balanced image. Symmetry occurs when both sides of
your photo are similar enough to be
considered symmetrically balanced.

Radial balance in photography is where

there are elements in an image that
radiate out from a central point in a circle.

WHAT IS AN ASYMMETRICAL PHOTO COMPOSITION AND HOW IS IT USED? // © PHOTZY.COM 5

 TIPS FOR ACHIEVING ASYMMETRICAL
BALANCE IN YOUR IMAGES

THE RULE OF THIRDS

The most basic idea of the Rule of Thirds is to break

down a photograph into thirds both horizontally and
vertically. Important elements of an image are placed
along a three-by-three grid which, in turn, equally
divides the photograph into nine rectangular sections.
There are also four intersecting points where the vertical
and horizontal lines cross and the idea is that you should
use these as your points of interest. These are where you
place the important elements of your photograph.

Because this means that your subject won’t be in the

center, you’re automatically creating an asymmetrical
composition. Your main focal point will be to the right or
the left and at the top or the bottom of your image.

CHANGE THE CAMERA ANGLE

Sometimes, creating asymmetrical balance is as simple

as just changing your camera angle. If you have two
equal elements and place them in front of each other,
you’d be creating symmetrical balance. But move to
the right or left and the perspective and depth of field
change. Now you’re creating a simple asymmetrical
balance, but your photo has added depth and
Photograph by Annie Spratt dynamism.
Use color to help draw attention to different elements in your image.

WHAT IS AN ASYMMETRICAL PHOTO COMPOSITION AND HOW IS IT USED? // © PHOTZY.COM 6

 NEGATIVE SPACE

Negative space is the area around your image’s subject matter, with the
subject also being known as the positive space. However, this space can only
truly be called negative when referring to areas of a composition that are
empty, bland, or fairly uninteresting. Negative space is made up of elements
that fade into the background and don’t draw a viewer’s eye towards them.
So, you’ll often find negative space made up of elements such as water, sand,
overcast clouds, or plain walls (to give a few examples).

You can use negative space to isolate your main subject and achieve
asymmetrical balance by again placing the subject off-center.

USE DEPTH OF FIELD

Shooting with a large aperture gives you a smaller depth of field. This is often
used to blur out distracting details in the background and is widely used by
portrait photographers to help isolate their subject and make them ‘pop’ out
of the image.

Using a small depth of field can help to create asymmetrical balance. Place
your main subject in the front and then place the rest of your elements
behind. The elements behind will be blurred, which moves a viewer’s
attention to the front and gives you asymmetrical balance.

BREAK REFLECTION SYMMETRY

When people think of reflections, they usually associate them with

symmetrical balance, whereby the reflection is exactly the same as the scene
in front of them. You can make a reflection asymmetrical by placing the
Photograph by Rhanna reflection to one side. Or add an element in the foreground that breaks the
Use depth of field to create an asymmetrical balance in your image. You can reflectional symmetry, such as a fallen branch or even a person.
combine it with leading lines to direct your viewer’s attention around the photo.

WHAT IS AN ASYMMETRICAL PHOTO COMPOSITION AND HOW IS IT USED? // © PHOTZY.COM 7

 COLORS

Different colors have different visual

weights. Some colors grab a viewer’s
attention more than others and you can
use those to create an asymmetrical
balance in a shot. For instance, red
always grabs attention as it’s bright and
vibrant. You can put this amongst softer
colors, such as blue, and a viewer’s eye
will be drawn to the red first, creating an
asymmetrical image.

MANIPULATE YOUR FRAMING

In a similar way to changing the angle of

a photograph, manipulating the framing
of an object can change a symmetrical
subject into one that’s asymmetrical. Let’s
take a simple leaf. It’s easy to photograph
it to show symmetry by photographing it
along its axis to show the symmetry of its
Photograph by Mark Harpur veins on either side. Zoom in and move
Shooting low to the ground makes the lavender look larger and this, combined with the leaf to one side of your image at an
the jetty out into the water, helps to create asymmetrical balance.
angle and you’ve immediately created an
asymmetrical shot.

WHAT IS AN ASYMMETRICAL PHOTO COMPOSITION AND HOW IS IT USED? // © PHOTZY.COM 8

 MORE OBJECTS FOR MORE VISUAL WEIGHT you can shift the visual weight to it and therefore
create asymmetrical balance.
If you’re shooting a landscape, then larger objects
at the back of a shot often grab attention – think LEADING LINES
buildings, trees, mountains etc. But shoot your
photographs so that there are multiples objects in Leading lines give visual direction to your viewer and
the foreground, such as more trees or rocks, and help move their eye through an image. They’re also a
their visual weight will outweigh the background. No great way to create an asymmetrical balance in your
objects available? You can use people to help gain shots as they help draw the eye to your main subject.
visual weight and balance out the larger objects in Leading lines can be physical, such as roads, paths,
the background. or electric cables, or even imaginary such as a finger
pointing in a particular direction.
USE FORCED PERSPECTIVE
DARK TONES VS. LIGHT TONES
Forced perspective is a technique that creates an
optical illusion which makes objects appear smaller, Compositions with a range of tones can give balance
larger, closer, or further away than they actually are. according to their placement. Dark tones have a
You can create asymmetrical balance in this way by greater visual weight than light tones, meaning that if
using forced perspective. For example, say you’re you want to achieve balance using tonal contrast, you
photographing a mountain with a lake in front of it. A need to make sure that you have a larger highlight
large mountain has a lot of visual weight, and if you area in comparison to a shadowy one.
leave the lake in the foreground with the reflection of
Recommended Reading: If you’d like to
the lake in it, you’d be creating a symmetrical image.
improve your composition skills for better
By adding something in the foreground to hide the
images, grab a copy of Photzy’s best-selling
reflection and putting this object close to the camera,
premium guide: Understanding Composition.

WHAT IS AN ASYMMETRICAL PHOTO COMPOSITION AND HOW IS IT USED? // © PHOTZY.COM 9

 CONCLUSION

Asymmetry doesn’t mean that your

photograph is unbalanced. Instead, it
means that you attribute different visual
weight to objects in an image, but in a
way that still keeps balance and allows
the objects in the frame to grab equal
attention from a viewer. Symmetrical
balance might be the most well-known
approach, but asymmetrical images
are interesting and provide a different
outlook.

Photograph by Katsuma Tanaka

WHAT IS AN ASYMMETRICAL PHOTO COMPOSITION AND HOW IS IT USED? // © PHOTZY.COM 10

 Self-Check Quiz:

1) What is visual weight?

2) What is radial balance?

3) What is the rule of thirds?

4) What is negative space?

5) How can you use depth of field to create asymmetrical balance?

WHAT IS AN ASYMMETRICAL PHOTO COMPOSITION AND HOW IS IT USED? // © PHOTZY.COM 11

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(free for a limited time)

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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Congratulations! You’ve completed
this Photzy guide!

If you liked this photography tutorial,

check out this premium composition
guide to help you better compose
images: Understanding Composition.

Jo Plumridge is a UK based freelance writer and photographer.

She writes photography, travel, and opinion pieces for
magazines, websites, and books, and specializes in portrait and
corporate photography. You can view some of her work on her IF YOU’D LIKE TO CONTINUE
website, www.joplumridge.co.uk, and follow her on Twitter at
JoPlumridge.
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