Composition: Symmetry Landscape is the challenge for #DogwoodWeek5. This was the hardest challenge yet because it was landscape which isn’t Mom’s favorite thing unless there are dogs, and winter seemed to zap her creative ideas. Nonetheless, we got it done.
What is symmetrical landscape? It is where both sides of the photograph have equal weight, and they mirror each other. Subjects are intentionally centered to look perfectly symmetrical when split horizontally or vertically in half. Now this means there are two types of symmetry, horizontal and vertical.
Horizontal Symmetry Landscape
If you draw a horizontal line across the middle of a photo with horizontal symmetry, the top will be a mirror image of the bottom. Water shots are Mom’s favorite type of horizontal symmetry. This is a photo Mom took a couple years ago at nose work camp. There is a natural line across the photo, and the bottom half is the exact mirror image of the actual trees.
Vertical Symmetry Landscape
If you draw a vertical line in the middle of a photo with vertical symmetry, each side will be a mirror image of the other. This bike rack is a good example of vertical symmetry. The posts provide the center line, and the circles mirror each other on each side. In symmetrical photos the subject is almost always in the middle of the photo. This is going against the Rule of Thirds we had back in week two, but rules are not for every situation. It all depends on what kind of look you are trying to achieve. She didn’t choose this photo because aside from the bike rack, each side is not the same.
Our Symmetry Landscape Photo Choice
Landscape is tough for us. Mom took so many different photos trying to get the right one, but none of them really achieved her desired perfection. Finally she settled on this wheel. Of course it would be much better with a dog in the photo, but that was not the assignment. Mom wanted it to be as close to an exact mirror image as possible.
- Note the wood strips on the old barn are centered
- The wheel is centered with the middle strip of barn siding
- The spokes on the wheel mirror each other
- The main reason Mom chose this photo is the snow on the inner wheel frame – it is as close as possible to being exactly the same on both sides
Does anything bother you about this photo and the symmetry? The tiny weed on the right side bothers Mom, but she doesn’t want to use photoshop to change photos, just to adjust lighting, or crop them, so it stays in the picture.
It is a very simple photograph, but we like it and think it does show symmetry landscape. What do you think?
Very cool Madison! We think your mom got it just right!!
Thank you. We were all over the place looking for the right thing to photograph.
you mom has an eye for taking super photos… the first one looks like an artpiece by bob ross, just much much better ;O)
If only this challenge had been in the fall when we are at camp! Oh well, it all turned out good anyway.
I like it, The wheel is the focal point, but the color of the barn, and then the windows on the sides are very interesting. I’d say you did a great job.
Thank you. Mom is very exact, so nothing really measured up for her, but this was the best of what we had to choose from.
Honestly, I never noticed the weed until you mentioned it. 🙂 You did a far better job than I would have done, but then again, you’ve seen MY photos. LOL
Mom noticed the weed as soon as she put the photo on the computer. At first she was going to go back and pull it out, but then it would have ruined the untouched snow, so we left it. She is a perfectionist, so this was real hard because nothing was 100% exact.
Apawse! Bravo! I had my mom check it out, and she said it was vertical symmetry praise worthy. XOXO, Sparkle
Thank you, Sparkle. I was at gramma’s on Saturday and spent some quality time chomping on the root chew 🙂 We think of you every time we are there now.
glad you like it! I just could not wrap my paws around it.
Oh I say, thats all very clever and all very beautiful!
I’m just happy if my Mum gets sumthingy in focus!
Loves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
Thank you. Mom enjoys working on her photography skills.
Your mom did a great job and I linked your cute face to Awww Mondays.
Have a woof woof day. My best to your mom. ♥
Oh man! We thought today would not fit, so we didn’t link up. Thank you!
Your mom did a beautiful job on the challenge!
Not bad considering the photo doesn’t have a dog in it!
You did a furbulous job of explaining symmetry!
Whatever it was is cleared up now! Thanks ♥
Mom was thinking while driving and thought it may have been a momentary server thing with the host. Glad it is all better now.
Thank you. I’m learning along with my mom.
We think this is a good choice for symmetry Madison…We have landscape stuff everywhere…but with the wind and then rain, it’s been hard to get a shot our Mama is happy with too.
xoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
Bad weather really does add a new element to the whole challenge.
Lovely (and symmetrical) – good work!
Thank you.
This one sounded pretty tough, and we think your Mom did a great job!! We didn’t even notice the weed until you pointed it out. 🙂
She noticed it as soon as she downloaded the photo, but there is no way to get rid of it, and we don’t like photoshopping, so it stayed.
Oh wow, very cool photos, you rocked this challenge.
Thank you. You could do mirror images of the puppies 🙂
There was a weed? Excellently symmestrical photo!
It bothers my mom, but she is kind of a perfectionist!
excellent pictures of symmetry. your mom is a great photographer.
Thank you. Emma trained her well, and we are trying to keep her challenged to be better.
Great job!
Thank you.