We're exploring the balance principle in a series of posts. We saw in last week's post that every rectangle has a potential axis. In our example of a Monet
painting, we saw how the weight of images changes according to their location between the edge of the painting and that axis.
One thing is certain: whatever pulls your eye to it holds visual weight. That means that every item within a rectangle has some degree
of pulling power, and that pull gives it visual weight. The strength of that pull is determined three things: (1) Its location between the axis and an edge (last week's post), (2) The degree of
emphasis you put on the image, (3) the direction and speed of the movement within the image.
If you keep the seesaw in mind, axis, weight, location and movement are easier to visualize.
There are several ways we create degrees of emphasis. The most used is value contrast. Close value
contrast creates weak emphasis whereas strong value contrasts creates more powerful emphasis. The examples following show that: We see the same size disc in the same location in each design. Close value contrast in the top one causes you to notice it, but not to the degree you are pulled to the more strongly contrasted one below
it.
Both designs have an emphasis on the disc, but the degree of emphasis is different. The more highly contrasted one has stronger visual pulling
power.
(3) DIRECTION AND SPEED OF MOVEMENT
Here's a different kind of example of pulling power. Below are two value gradations. Watch how your eyes move faster across the stronger one
than they do across the weaker one. (I've put some distance between them to reduce their impact upon each other.)
This is an example of direction and speed of movement.
SIDE NOTE: DON'T TRY TO LEARN IT ALL AT ONCE
Some of these balance concepts might be new to you. That's why I don't dump it all into one post. My goal is to share tools that free us to create, and my
experience tells me that learning one thing at a time is the best way to turn a concept into a tool.
After all, composition principles are totally useless to us if they can't be turned into tools. Rules just don't cut it!
- Spend your long weekend noticing visual pulling power
- Notice what kinds of images attract your attention
- Pay attention to how their visual emphasis plays a role in your noticing them
Enjoy an enlightening weekend!
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