Your Secret Weapon to Amazing Photographs - Symmetry in Photography - Episode 2

[@dingo3718]

Railway tracks, love railway tracks, placed in the right background can be very enticing.

[@jamesmgreen15]

A lot of information coming my way..........Phew, LOL.........Eventually, I hope some sticks😀 Thanks again.

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! Yep, trying to pack as much in as much as possible in this series!! Once you've soaked up some of that info, get out and shoot and put some of it into practice. Thanks for watching James 😁👍

[@drpepper998]

That mountain shot works because the lighter part of the image is on thre right side balancing out the dark of the left side. Our eyes always go to the light area of an image.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words Bob. This is why I started this channel in the first place... I was tired of hearing some people drone on for hours over a subject they could have covered in about 10 minutes. The video should only ever be as long as it needs to be, nothing more, nothing less. 😁 It would be great to see what you come up with when you do make a cage. They are very handy and do protect the camera quite a bit. I shoot these videos with the A7C and I have dropped it quite a few times as well as it blowing over in the wind... and the cage was the one thing that saved it. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@earavichandran]

Nice explanation Mike.... Wonderfully narrated...❤❤

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Ravi!! 😁👍

[@speliotis]

creating balance when the subjetct is centered or when the subject is off center the negative space creates tension in the frame...

[@mikesphotography]

Exactly, and that is coming later in the series when I specifically talk about negative space. Thanks for your thoughts Steven and thanks for watching 👍

[@speliotis]

@@mikesphotography appreciate your content & the way you share your knowledge....

[@darenhomewood7853]

2 or more matching halves, and completely flat lakes 🤣 Sorry Mike, but these gaffs tickled me 😂 Great advice though 👍

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! Gotta have fun with it all!! 😆😆 But the question is, did you spot the dodgy looking image I squeezed in there!? 🤔 Thanks for watching Daren 😁👍

[@paulm8157]

Quality vid, Mike. Asymmetry more challenging to get one’s head around. My hunch is that some folks drift into asymmetry as a way to avoid placing subjects smack dab in the middle of the frame - perhaps why the Italian mountain off center shot works. Photographer might be panned for central placement. Perspective and vision help make symmetry “semi-automatic” - like train tracks. Faux symmetry possible in post, including apps that make mirror images. Reflection pics a standard symmetry method in street photography. Table, nice. When there are no natural puddles, one can bring along a few beers and “improvise”. 😊 Cheers!

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! maybe I should have done that, although then that would have been a waste of beer!! 😆 That is probably true about asymmetry, and it is a step away from putting the subject bang in the middle of the frame ... and dare I mention the rule of thirds? 😆 😆 With that shot in of Giau Pass, in the Dolomites, I took tonnes of shots and this is the one I liked the best... I did take a few where the peak was in the middle, but then having it off centre and the building in the bottom corner still balanced out the shot, with the added weight of the human element. I always get the table in there now. 😁 As always thanks for watching 👍

[@cguerrieri4866]

Well done. Great explanation of what to be on the lookout for

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much!! And thanks for watching 😁👍

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks so much for sharing another wonderful video like always Mike, I just bought the Canon rf 16mm because of the price, do you think I got a chance at taking a few nice landscape photos with such lens 😂👍

[@mikesphotography]

No worries Miguel, as always thanks for your kind words! Haha! Most definitely! I find the wide angle lens is very much a specialist lens, but when you do find a good composition that works with a wide angle, you can get some great shots with it! I probably use it for 5-10% of my photos, you can always take a shot with a longer focal length and do a pano stitch, but there is something nice about having a lens especially for it. 😁 As always thanks for watching my friend 😁👍

[@martybeyer]

01:06 broke my brain 😮

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! I always drop in an Easter egg or two to see who's paying attention! You win!! 😁👍

[@jdpjamesp]

Really informative video Mike. As usual. On the question of the Giau Pass and why it works like that. I wonder if it's to do with the fact that we have an expectation that a mountainous structure is dominant and therefore having it dominating the negative space, but also on a powerful thirds line meets our expectations of the structure and therefore looks natural? The leading line of the road also balances it as it draws the eye to the dominant point in the photo, as you expect. I also think the way the light works also helps. So the road draws you from along the edge of the light to the mountain, but when you get there the dominant side is in shade still, so your eye is then drawn to the light side which runs away again and leads the eye into the negative space. In fact as I type I'm thinking this is actually a stronger argument for it. The mountain is asymmetrical, but the light/shadow line is almost slap down the middle, so therefore adds the symmetry back. Forgive the rambling!! :)

[@mikesphotography]

No worries at all, love it!! It is great to talk through images like this, and you started thinking out loud (in text). The one other thing as well as that the building in the foreground holds a lot of weight to us humans being a structure built by fellow humans! As always thanks for watching James 😁👍

[@lindakantes873]

The Gavia Pass (hope I got that right) foto------ I like it a lot -eye drawn towards the buildings at the bottom as well, even though the mountain is dominant .

[@mikesphotography]

It is amazing how much weight the building has when you look at this one... it shows the power of having a man made object in your frame. Lol... it is Giau pass ... some dodgy foreign language... 😆 To be fair, I always have to google it to get the spelling right. As always thanks for watching Linda 😁👍

[@robertleem5643]

Excellent video and well explained. We stayed south of Cleethorpes and I found an old church and used Symmetry to take photos of the central pillars on either side of the main hall. Went back to do some night photography.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much!! That sounds like a great way to use symmetry. It's always nice when you find a good composition you can go back and shoot in different conditions. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@keithpinn152]

Hi Mike: This was a very informative and interesting video. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Keith

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words Keith! This has been a fun series to shoot... lots more to come over the next couple of months as well. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@ArminSteiner]

Another great one, still love the way you explain those things in a light way that stickt (at least with me). Thanks for sharing

[@mikesphotography]

Great to hear it is sticking Armin! 😁 When watching things on youtube, it is so easy to get bogged down with way too much info... especially with some videos going on for hours and hours and the presenter is droning on and on... there are a few that send me to sleep!! 😆 As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@frankinblackpool]

I’d say that asymmetry works really well if it’s complemented by good use of negative space.

[@mikesphotography]

Most definitely!! It is a lot of fun finding different techniques and practices and moulding them together. 😁👍

[@lennymo9088]

Good point for a novice like me. Thanks Mike.

[@mikesphotography]

No worries, Glad I could help Lenny! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@TobSounds]

Nice video! I like to try taking reflection shot’s and symmetrical shot’s sometimes😊 I have been to Denmark for 11 days, i got back home yesterday, and shooted ALOT of photo’s😎 from the ship’s and from Denmark😄. I want to send you a cool photo i got on the ferry toward’s Denmark! I personally love the photo! 😁

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much! Great to hear!! It is always fun getting away for a trip or two. We are heading to Europe this summer to the south of France, so looking forward to photographing somewhere different. As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@TobSounds]

@@mikesphotography Yup! Oooh that’s nice you are going to France!! 😃 I know about ferries in south of France ish, Nice and Marseille and some other port’s got many ferries, if you are going to the south coast of France🙈 France would be cool to visit😊 I want to shoot photo’s and video’s of the ferries and travel with the ferries there😁

[@Andy39squid]

Another fantastic offering with more incredible shots from North Wales. Im a sucker for single point symmetry. There can be only one!!!

[@hbarwick1]

Nice points I appreciate. Also do you think you will be trying the new a6700?

[@jimbruton9482]

Good video Mike. I must say there are so many perfectly symmetrical images, they start to become boring. Shifting the view a bit and adding a little conflict sometimes can be a good thing. Your "imbalanced" photo in Italy (06:11) is beautiful. You have a leading line of the road heading up to the base of the mountain peak

[@patrickdavidmcmahon4271]

I don’t see anything at 06:11 but is something odd at 01:07?

[@jimbruton9482]

@@patrickdavidmcmahon4271 My Mistake, it's 03:26 Thanks! I 've not a clue at the image at 01:07 Maybe a bit of humor from Mike?

[@mikesphotography]

You got it Jim!! It is one of my favourite shots I took on that trip ... we had cloud for ages and it didn't look like anything was going to come from it, and then all of a sudden the cloud broke and the beautiful sunshine colours lit up the peak. I was taking shots like crazy and this one seemed to work the best. Like you said, the leading line leads your eye from the building up to the peak ... and the weight of the building balances out the shot. ... and Patrick, you are right, there is something odd about that shot ... I was wondering who would notice that one! 😆 I always drop at least one thing in each video to see who is paying attention and you got it. If you flip it upside-down, it should make sense then. As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@stephensmithphotography]

Great video, thanks for sharing 👍👍

[@mikesphotography]

No worries Stephen! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@klaras286]

Thank you for good tips 👍

[@mikesphotography]

No worries, thanks for watching!

[@lindakantes873]

Love this type of photography, something I can do in the city --great vid again Mike .

[@mikesphotography]

That is great to hear!! Cities are fantastic for symmetrical shots so lots of opportunities for that. Next week I talk about framing, so that will work as well in a city environment!! As always thanks for watching Linda 😁👍

[@lindakantes873]

@@mikesphotography looking forward to that !

[@gilgillis4230]

Excellent lessons! Thank you!

[@lynsmith1096]

Nice 1 Mike

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Lyn! 😁👍

[@stephenwoodburn2970]

Great video, Mike. I am guessing that both sides of my photograph being equally out of focus does not count for the symmetry lesson that you were talking about today. Shame, because I have a lot of those. I love symmetrical shots, especially reflections. I will keep these tips in mind. Looking forward to next weeks tips. I hope you all are well.

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! Well I think that is a perfect example of symmetry ... it is symmetrically out of focus!! 😆 Next week it is all about framing, which will add depth to your out of focus photos... 🤔😁 As always thanks for watching Steve 😁👍

[@aftereight8341]

Mike, you became a king of the mountain. When watching your videos (with the scenery like in this one) I got a feeling you are the only person in the waste area. Still, your enthusiasm and the way how you create a dynamic in your videos creates a feeling you are surrounded by people behind the camera. Btw, you really mastered your presentation and editing skills over the years. As a result, your videos looks super concise with plethora of photos that support your statements, after watching your videos I cannot believe how much you covered in just a few minutes. Taking symmetrical or asymmetrical shot - I find myself very often in such dilemma (especially with street photography). Sometimes the decision is no brainer, but sometimes is not; then I usually take both shots and let my wife later to pick the one she likes more. Cary on, mate, I enjoy your lessons.

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! Thanks very much for your kind words!! I wish I did have a whole camera crew behind the camera... that would make it much easier... but a lot more expensive!! 😆 In reality, it is just me, and my script with a fair bit of planning before hand. Great to hear they make sense and get the information across in a succinct manner. It always bothers me when people ramble on for hours, and this was one of the reasons I started here in the first place... and using it as an excuse to get into the mountains is even better!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Moujik6540]

Very good tips

[@RGP_WA]

Mike, great content. I believe that your mountain shot in Italy is a nice example of how asymmetry works due to the clouds to the right, that some how balance the photo. Thanks again!

[@mikesphotography]

Most definitely!! It is using a few different principles to get balance ... also the building has a lot of weight to us humans as it is made by us, so this normally draws our eye to it ... and then with the clouds above being nice and light, this also balances out the big mountain on the left of the shot. When I took it, this was probably about the 10th shot in a whole series of shots I took and I liked it the best because it just works. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@onikaimu]

Great video, Mike. Hopefully, this is the start of your composition series because it is wonderfully explained. Looking forward to the next. Stay safe.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Lance! Lots more to come in this series... I hope all is good with you and you have recovered from the Jetlag! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@SCPenner1]

I don't often intentionally go looking for Symmetry but often find it when reviewing my photos and use it when cropping them. Many of them use asymmetry since it's easier to find 😁 I'm really enjoying this new look at techniques to improve my photography.

[@mikesphotography]

That is interesting Steven. In nature it is sometimes hard to see the symmetry but easier once you have it as a bigger image on the computer. Great to hear you are enjoying the new series. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@thilinaalagiyawanna3680]

Thank you

[@huubdegroot]

Another great vlog Mike. With the coming holidays in the Dolomites, I realy appreciate this one. Thank you for the great samples !!! Hopefully I don't mess up this year 😀

[@mikesphotography]

Well now I am a little envious!! 😆 The dolomites is such an amazing place to shoot. We've been a couple of times and I can't wait to go again. When you get to a good location, just take your time, slow down and think about the settings; play around with them and you will end up with some good shots... and if not, you need to watch more of my tutorials 😆😆 Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@huubdegroot]

@@mikesphotography Well, I posted some vids of our holidays last year on your facebook messenger. We have been lost in the mountains with thunder and lightning, but is was a great time. Hopefully I can give you some paybackvids with our trips :-) I'm still learning a lot and things go better. Hopefully we will have a great time this year again.

[@officerfarva2545]

I tried to always find balance in my photos but I like what you said about asymmetrical shots as well. Even though they are imbalanced photos, I think they appear balanced based on the depth of the photo and how that depth tends to lead your eye through the photo. Easier said than done but I think that's why we love to create the photos we do. Every day is just a new chance to create something unique

[@mikesphotography]

That is great that you always look for balance in your photographs. Sometimes it is easy to find and other times it is a little more tricky. You are right about getting depth in the shot... I talk about depth a little in next weeks video on framing. 😁 Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@tlareG]

👍

[@mikesphotography]

😁👍