Balancing with Space

Balancing with space is a technique in which you balance your photographs with either people or objects. Think of it as a two-step process. The first step is to balance the photo. The second step is to pay attention to the space between both the left and right edges of your frame and the people and/or objects you are using to balance.

For example, let’s say you have two people in your frame; one person is on the left and one on the right. The person on the left is two inches from the left edge of the frame; the person on your right should also be close to two inches from the right side of the frame. Both distances don’t have to be exactly the same, but they should be close. Why is this distance important?

The answer lies in the fact that the edges of our viewfinders work as points of reference. Our brains easily detect any deviation from these reference points. We depend on this space perception to stay in balance ourselves, so it is very sharp. Pay special attention to the division of space in the frame before pushing that shutter button.