the great balancing act

 

Balance: we all seek it. Yes, in our daily lives. Yes, in our photography. But what does it mean? That answer is probably as individual as we all are. Right now, I'm in a place with my arms outstretched, equally opposed, each hand full of light and dark. Maintaining balance is essential. So, how can looking at the world through our viewfinder teach us more about light and life and how to balance it all into a beautiful photographic package?

We've talked composition before. We've talked white space. We've talked light.

But what of balance? Balance is the feeling your photograph evokes.  Balance is what makes images look and feel harmonious. (And no, not always symmetrical. And yes, you can break the rules.) Balance, composition, space, and light: each one of these elements of photography has a certain amount of value in direct relation to all the other elements. Just like us, they are all connected. Without them the image loses its emotion, the subject falls off the page, the viewer loses interest of the subject, or the moment has passed.

All of this swirled around in my brain as I looked at this blade of grass and wondered, "How do I photograph a single blade of grass?"

More than anything, photography lends me a way to view the world. To seek light, to watch it bounce and flare and reflect. To appreciate the quiet of space and peace. To love the hold-your-breath-wait-for-it *click!* of the sought after image. What I find each and every day is that photography teaches me big life lessons in simple and small ways. I'm thankful for the learning, and I try my best to remember to carry these lessons with me when I am without my camera. This is the zen of photography. 

Today, show me how you find your balance (and not necessarily in the photographic sense, although a well balanced image is always welcome). Can you catch light? Do you get small?  Share with me a favorite moment of yours.

Comments

[Marcie]

Balance - for me - is that perfect moment of awesome silence...the one that takes your breath away and reminds me of life's perfection:
http://visionandverb.com/2010/08/no-matter-where/
or
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1251

[Kat]

I love what you wrote! I learn so much from my photography too. Balance for me photographically is achieved by balancing the contrasts - whether they may be light and shadow, color, texture, size, relative distance. Balance for me personally is finding the quiet and giving myself space to be truly me. When I do that, I'm centered and ready to face the world.
Here is a recent image that I thought of, in balancing contrasts:
http://www.kateyeview.com/2010/08/zebra-in-switzerland.html

[cigi]

For me, less is always more. I find balance ~ both in my life and in what I find pleasing to the eye ~ in simplicity:
http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/199365/
http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/192365/

[Pam]

This is a photo of a quilt I am working on. I am sewing it on my husband's mother's old machine. This is how I find my balance. In the midst of my busy schedule and to-do's and must-be-at's - I take time to slow down and create.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidewalkshoes/4406571965/in/set-72157623430826007/

[marina]

what a fabulous shot and beautiful post, Meredith!
I often find myself trying to regain some balance in my days by looking at the world around me via my camera, particularly trying to capture the incredible beauty of nature, of small flowers, for example, as in this shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36167691@N03/4848256597/in/set-72157624206916383/lightbox/

[soupatraveler]

yoga, it keeps me balanced. when i've been away for too long, i start to unravel

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46922592@N00/4841840040/

[cynthia]

For me, balance is not letting my camera get in the way of enjoying a moment with family and friends. And, loving my imperfect shots that evoke emotion as much as my perfectly composed ones. Balance for me is understanding that my photographer role is secondary to my mommy/wife/friend role. Granted I am only a self-taught amateur but I don't think this view would change if I were a pro.

http://apictureintime.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/newborn/
http://apictureintime.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/puppet-show/

[Julie Alvarez]

I often don't have any perceivable balance in my every day life.
But in the long run, I can see the whole picture, and there it is.
This and that. Past and present. Future and dreams.
Love and loneliness.
Walk and run.
There it is.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2903674990/

[BlessedMess]

So well expressed.

This post quickly called to mind a photo I took this summer of the full moon. Not by any means the most interesting, but I remember taking a few shots, initially keeping the "C" out of frame. It didn't feel right. Not balanced. Then, widening slightly, I included the little sign. Works SO much better.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/4742239203/

It is a game of trial and error sometimes. But often, you can feel it in your gut.

[Sarah]

Balance...I am always striving for it...I guess for me it is all about trying to stay present..not get wrapped up in too much at once. I meditate and walk and Reiki too.
Artwise I think the drawing and painting is my meditation. With the photography it is without a doubt all about the macro shots...love to take macros...here is one of my favorites..I think it turned out pretty balanced :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cottagegardenstudios/4625037865/

[Michel]

oh boy, balance is definitely something I struggle with in my real life. Behind the camera I feel a bit more balanced therefore when I'm feeling a bit 'off' I just walk out into the streets with my camera around my neck. knell down and see what I might come up with.

http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/8/2/right-in-the-middle.html

[Misty]

I just took this yesterday.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontforgetthehorse/4854465571/

It's my family. They balance me most of all.

[Jayne Bramley]

Balance is something I crave and I struggle to find it in my life......here I am 'on the edge'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14261878@N08/4617100487/

[Kelly]

I find balance by reminding myself to look someplace different, someplace that isn't right in front of me. When I do, I find things like these flags. They are in a fast food parking lot, but I never would have noticed them if I hadn't taken a moment to look up.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellysoji/4596678417

[Trude]

Wow that shot is lovely! Balance is definitely a tough one. More than any of my loved ones, my dog really helps me relax and take a moment to breathe. After my 9-5 job and coming home to work on photos and blogging and such at night, having him around forces me to just take a minute! :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/4661667245/in/set-72157607489137746/

[Jamie Solorio]

I find that simplicity is a great way to achieve balance as mentioned above. Here is a shot I took Sunday night that I liked.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49026977@N05/4856896447/

www.jamie-solorio.blogspot.com

[WorthIt!]

I find balance hard to define yet critical to a powerful image...I think Jamie is right to focus on simplicity.

Here's a shot where I tried to balance the light and the dark in a building storm.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/4857032559/

[sarah]

I find balance between the ground the the sea. I'm also offering this photo as it represents for me the balance between capturing a good image and creating something more in the editing process. http://www.flickr.com/photos/shorelinesphotography/4855758421/

[Beatriz Macias]

Real balance and captured balance... a difficult yet beautiful achievement. A recent post about balance. http://www.flickr.com/photos/suitcasecontents/4831671664/

[lifeineden]

What serendipity today! I posted an old image from a trip to our local little arboretum. Our smaller town doesn't necessarily have all the stunning picturesque places of some of our previous towns and cities (or at least I haven't had the chance to explore too many yet), so this one little garden is a refuge for me. I've gone several times when I've escaped stay-at-homedom and found respite and renewal -- balance.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/4856551591/

[Stephanie]

My life has felt "out of balance" for the last three years. In fact, I started my blog as a way of forcing myself to find balance. For me, in comes in many forms--running, photography, cooking--anything where I can get some down time and enjoy life's gifts. http://bigmariolife.blogspot.com/2010/02/little-mario-finds-mushroom.html

Here's my latest attempt at balance - trying a new recipe: http://bigmariolife.blogspot.com/2010/08/shrimp-risotto.html

[staci]

These came to mind when balance was brought up :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3monkeysjumping/4839326275/in/set-72157623385218114/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3monkeysjumping/4342079575/in/set-72157623385218114/

It's always so hard to get that balance whether it be in your photo or in your life.

[Patty Reiser]

Last month I had the pleasure of vacationing in Utah. One morning I awoke at 3:30am California time to capture the sun rising over Bryce Canyon. Of all the images I captured that week (over 1200) this one is my favorite. I can't wait to receive my large print and have it framed for my bedroom. This photo just brings me peace which helps me balance out my hectic life as a work at home mother.

http://www.pkphotographyblog.us/2010/07/branching-out-in-the-sunrise/

Celebrate Life and Capture it!
Patty

[tuscanphotomasterclass.com]

The right color, the right foreground and the right background but also the right moment! How it would be magic waiting a little drop on the flloor? ;)