SYMMETRY: The Secret Weapon for Shooting Epic Landscape Photos (VIDEO)

All good panorama photographers try to create a mode all their very own to make their photos instantly recognizable and stand out from the gang. This purpose can also be essential for newbie shooters who need to elevate their work to the subsequent degree.

Mike Smith is an accomplished British pro specializing in panorama pictures, and he is additionally an adept teacher. In at present’s fast tutorial he reveals  a “secret weapon” that is partially accountable for his success. The subject is composing a scene with symmetry in thoughts, and it is not a troublesome method to grasp.

Smith discusses the several types of symmetry and methods to use them for to create photos with most impression. He additionally demonstrates a technique for combining symmetry and asymmetry to crease wonderful images. These strategies can get rid of “chaos” and simplify sophisticated panorama scenes to create a strong sense of order.

As Smith explains, symmetry happens when a scene has two matching halves. He illustrates this idea by drawing a vertical line down the center of a symmetrical {photograph} and flipping a  copy of 1 facet onto the opposite. As you may see, each side look precisely the identical. Asymmetry, however, is the alternative.

The commonest symmetrical type is horizontal, like in scenes with a lake within the foreground and hills within the background. On this scenario, particularly on calm days, the reflection within the backside half of the photograph turns into a mirror picture of the highest half. The trick right here is to shoot from a low camera place and place the far fringe of the lake down the middle of the body. You’ll be able to even do that method utilizing a big puddle within the street.

As it’s possible you’ll anticipate, vertical symmetry is one other viable possibility, and Smith makes use of a photograph of Japan’s well-known Mt. Fuji as an instance how this works. Although this iconic volcano is not completely symmetrical, the balanced composition actually works. You will see how this system can also be very efficient when photographing buildings and different man-made constructions.

Smith presents a second gorgeous picture of Mt. Fuji with a exceptional mixture of vertical and horizontal symmetry. The foregoing is only a smattering of what Smith’s reveals on this lesson, so watch till the tip and put your newfound data to work.

There’s rather more to see on Smith’s instructional YouTube channel, so ensure to have a look when you might have time.

And do not miss a tutorial we posted earlier from an image-editing exert, explaining methods to add impression to panorama photographs by utilizing masks in Photoshop’s Uncooked editor.