— After last week’s Lens-Artists‘ challenge on symmetry, this week the challenge was asymmetry in photography. Donna’s challenge was beautifully proposed in an eye-catching gallery illustrating good examples of asymmetry.
Asymmetrical balance in photography is easier found than one would imagine. The reality is that the world we live in is pretty much asymmetric. Therefore, finding examples of asymmetric balance is just about everywhere we look. These are some common concepts everyone uses in photography: the Rule of Thirds, framing, contrast, color/size/shape, negative space, texture/pattern, leading lines, brightness, reflections, post-processing, and more.
In the opening photo, I featured an example of reflections in architectural asymmetric balance. The vertical lines in the mirrored building enhance the horizontal and curved lines in the buildings being reflected. I don’t know if you experience the same, but my eyes keep trying to see the mirrored building but keep moving to the elements being reflected and finding the asymmetric lines.
In nature, it is easy to encounter asymmetry in various scenes. Let’s take a look at three distinct landscape images. All photos can be enlarged if you click on them.
In the first image at Garner SP, the small waterfall in the Frio River is framed according to the Rule of Thirds. The next obvious asymmetric element is the contrast between the textures of the wall and the flowing water. One can also see reflections and colors contrasting throughout the photo, especially in the background..
In this Big Bend NP photo at the South Rim, asymmetry is emphasized by the tree in the foreground leaning left towards the outside of the frame, whereas the textures of the mountains in the background keep bringing your eyes to the photo. There is also the size contrast of the small grasses vis-à-vis the tree itself as well as the tree and the background mountains.
Finally, an abstract image often seems to be a good candidate for asymmetry. I went out this week specifically looking for asymmetry to create a new photo. Among the several images I captured, I liked the total lack of symmetry in Walnut Creek, just a couple of miles from my home. There is a strong presence of contrast in green and yellow colors, shapes, and lines reflected in the bottom of the creek bed.
Still, in nature, I want to highlight asymmetric displays in flowers. The first flower (Stiff Greenthread) rising against the blue sky displays asymmetric petals. The flowers sometimes appear as a single bloom (as in my photo) or in bunches. The next flower is a macro of an Amaryllis. I wanted to highlight the asymmetry in its reproductive organs (pistil and stamens). They show irregular sizes and lean in asymmetrical directions. The last photo in this group is a Maximilian Sunflower. I also photographed it this week during my search for asymmetry. Not only are the flowers going in different directions, but it is interesting to note that the petals are at times stacked (doubled) and sometimes single-layered.
In closing, I want to show asymmetry in post-processing. It is a little trick achieved in Photoshop: Orbs. I used nature photos of flowers and butterflies for these. However, anything works. It is very addictive if you like abstracts. The results are asymmetric, as you can see in these three orbs. The large one is simply dried weeds. The next is a Red Admiral butterfly on a flower. The last one is an Indian Blanket wildflower. The asymmetrical subjects created are obvious. Do you have a favorite? Frankly, the more I create these orbs, the more I like the results.
As I said, it is very easy to create orbs in PS. Once I created one, I just saved the process as a Photoshop action. That way, all I do once I bring a new photo into PS is click a button to complete all the steps. Here are the steps if you would like to create your own orb.
- Take any square cropped image into Photoshop. It works with other sizes, but a square crop creates a sphere;
- Go to Filter – Distort – Polar Coordinates – Polar to rectangular;
- Next, go to Image – Image rotation – Flip Canvas Vertical;
- Back to Filter – Distort – Polar Coordinates – Rectangular to polar.
Other than the two new photos I captured this week specifically for this challenge, the other images I was able to locate them in my catalog by searching using the new Excire Foto 2024. It allowed me to enter the word “asymmetry” in its AI search to give a large number of photos I have in my photo catalog. Although I extensively use keywords in Lightroom, asymmetry is not one of them.
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aekshots
Beautiful waterfall capture and flower series Egidio. Looks like a cool Photoshop trick there with the orbs. Going to have to play with that a bit, thanks!
Egídio Leitão
Thanks for the feedback, Andy. I appreciated that. The PS trick is easy, especially if you save the steps as an action. I am not very knowledgeable about PS and seldom use it. I prefer Lightroom.
Wind Kisses
Wow. And yet another fantastic post. It is always hard to narrow if there is a favorite with your posts because they are all so carefully selected, photographed, and sometimes edited. I did spend some time looking at the reflection of the building. It was a nice look, and one to encourage the viewer to linger a bit longer. I loved the waterfall and everything about the photo from the South Rim, BB. I also appreciate your knowledge and information for others. The orb edits are cool. I especially liked the last one. Very nice, Egidio.
Egídio Leitão
Donna, your feedback is always so encouraging and flattering. I cannot find words to thank you for that. Also, again, thanks for the theme. You led the way to push the envelope, and you did it well. I like that your challenge made me think hard. That waterfall photo was a surprise to me. It dates back to 2005 and with a 2 megapixel camera. Luckily, modern technology allowed me to rescue the beauty of the place to what my eyes saw that day. Thank you for the feedback.
Wind Kisses
And thank YOU. Have a great week.
Tra Italia e Finlandia
La mia preferita è la foto di South Rim. Proprio bella!
Egídio Leitão
Grazie per il commento. South Rim è uno dei miei posti preferiti nel Big Bend NP.
Anne Sandler
Great asymmetric examples Egidio! I especially liked the orb lesson. I’ll have to try that!!
Egídio Leitão
Anne, thank you for the feedback. The orb trick in PS is addictive at first, and then you snap out of it as I did.
JohnRH
GREAT banner shot. Love the swirling water, LOVE the orbs. Superb, Egidio.
Egídio Leitão
John, your kind words are appreciated. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and photos.
Tina Schell
A wonderful response to the challenge Egidio. I especially liked the images you made specifically for the challenge. The opening image of the building is perfect! I smiled at the orbs, there was a time when I really played with them but haven’t done them in forever. Good idea to include the instructions. Loved your flowers also.
Egídio Leitão
Tina, I so much value your feedback. Thanks for the comments. As with you, I also snapped out of the orb edits after several tries. The last time I used that was last year. Thanks again.
Perpetua
OMG those orbs are magnificent. Is the site for photoshop free? I feel like playing like you did.
Egídio Leitão
Perpetua, those orbs are addictive at first. Then we move on. Photoshop is not free, unfortunately. They may offer a seven-day trial. Thanks for your feedback.
photobyjohnbo
Wow! I’m going to school on those Orbs! I can see myself getting lost in that type of project. Thanks for posting the how-to! But I don’t want to have this read like the rest of the images you provided were somehow less deserving of comment. >grin<
Your landscape photography is truly engrossing. That abstract of the creek bed is my favorite.
Egídio Leitão
John, thank you for the feedback. Yes, I got lost doing many of those orbs. Once the fun is over, you simply move on. Thanks for the compliments.
photobyjohnbo
That is so true. I have tried many artistic photo projects and the results are in my archives. Still they are fun when they are underway.
Egídio Leitão
And we always end up learning some new tricks.
margaret21
A wild nd enticing looks at natural world asymmetry, as well as a very different look at the man made world.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you, Margaret.
boromax
Wonderful photos. The orbs are so fabulous! Asymmetry everywhere is true – nature’s way of keeping us balanced. 😉
Egídio Leitão
So glad you liked the post/photos. Thank you for your feedback.
Amy
Wow! What a fabulous set of images! These flowers are breathtaking. The results of process are impressive. I tried this on PS, it’s not easy… I love your take on, Egidio!
Egídio Leitão
Thanks for the compliment, Amy. I like photographing flowers. In fact, I just got back from a short walk doing just that.
Amy
Love all your photos!
sustainabilitea
I have to agree with Donna that I love all of these. That last set was particularly enjoyable as I don’t have any of the post-processing things that many of you do, so I can’t do this. But I do enjoying seeing it elsewhere. I loved the opening reflection shot, but then I loved them all.
janet
Egídio Leitão
Janet, thank you so much for your compliment and comments. I appreciated them.
sustainabilitea
I submitted a long comment but don’t see it. Do you have to approved the comments?
janet
Egídio Leitão
I think WP had a hiccup. I only had to approve your very first comment. After that, WP does it automatically.
Sofia Alves
Love the orb effects, I might try them myself, it looks fun. Wonderful photos, I find your landscapes photos so peaceful, I want to go there and experience them.
Egídio Leitão
Sofia, thanks for the feedback and compliment. I’m happy to hear the landscape photos appear so peaceful. Thank you.
Rupali
lovely images and experiments.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you, Rupali.
Pepper
Such beautiful and creative images. I’ll have to give it a try.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you so much for your feedback, Pepper.
Pepper
My pleasure. 😊
Leya
I cannot pic a favourite – they are all favourites, Egidio. Your landscapes are always fabulous, but so is everything you have pointed your lens at. I loved creating orbs – and yours are fantastic. The big left one is a dream. I’ll have to try again…
Egídio Leitão
Ann-Christine, your kindness and feedback are so much appreciated. Thank you.
Robert J Jr.
Simply beautiful photos Egidio! I like the orb process and will play around with it some.
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, Robert. I appreciate your feedback.
Khurt L Williams
Egídio, I’m drawn to Big Bend photograph of the tree. Also, thank you for the Photoshop Orb trick. I think I’ll experiment with that this weekend.
Egídio Leitão
Khürt, Big Bend is one of my favorite national parks. I’m glad that photo has some appeal to you. Thanks for the feedback.
100 Country Trek
Thanks for sharing these amazing images. Your landscape is so inspiring. Anita
Egídio Leitão
Anita, your words are appreciated. Thank you for the compliment.
Ana
Great examples, Egídio!
Egídio Leitão
Many thanks for the compliment, Ana.
Anita
All of your images are excellent examples of asymmetry in photography. Your close ups of the flowers are lovely as is your first photo and the waterfall. Interesting what you can do in different photo programs, your orbs are stunning.
Egídio Leitão
Anita, thanks a million for your kind words. I appreciate them.
Yanti
Beautiful photos, Egidio! I love the dried weed orb…
Egídio Leitão
Yanit, thank you for the feedback. I think that out of those three orbs, the dried weed is my favorite. It reminds me of a nice gold-plated Christmas ornament.
Shelley@QuaintRevival.com
Great examples for us to learn from. I think for today my favorites are the Orbs. I don’t have Photoshop so I can’t try it, but the creations shared with this fun tool shows off your keen eye for capturing stunning abstracts!
Egídio Leitão
Shelley, thank you for your detailed feedback. I appreciated your comments.
Shelley@QuaintRevival.com
You’re welcome! 😊