(2) It isn't necessary to use only symmetrical arrangements to obtain
balance. Dissimilar objects, even ones of dramatically different sizes, can
be balanced by adjusting their placement in the picture. For example, you
might place a building at some distance in the left background and a person
much closer up in the right foreground.
Even though the house is really
much larger, the image of the person balances the house because, since it is
closer, it is visually the same size as the house. We'll discuss this more
when we get to perspective.
Figure 3-4.
Dissimilar objects can also be balanced
(3) Just as it usually isn't good to place the subject dead center in
a picture, it also is usually not good to split the picture in half; placing
the horizon line exactly halfway between the top and bottom or placing the
vertical edge of a building in the center. When placing the horizon line,
either the sky or the ground should dominate.
Placing the horizon about
one-third of the way from the top or bottom edge of the picture is usually a
good rule of thumb unless you have a compelling reason to do otherwise.
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