Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #116: Symmetry
This week, Patti invites us to explore Symmetry as a way to create dramatic and impactful images. I made a quick review of symmetry in photography and learned something new. Thank you, Patti.
There are four most common types of symmetry in photography
Vertical Symmetry
Vertical symmetry is the most common type of symmetry. Draw an imaginary vertical line at the center of the photo, if both sides are symmetrical, your photo will look visually appealing. Vertical symmetry is often used in architectural photography. It emphasizes the size, shape, and design of buildings.
This Tea Garden at a restaurant in Hong Kong in which my nephew and his wife had the tea ceremony before the wedding banquet.
Kasuga Grand Shrine in Nara, Japan, is famous for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone lanterns that lead up the shrine.
The Champ de Mars is one of the most beautiful, large public green spaces in Paris, France. This is one of the 360o views on the viewing level of the Eiffel Tower.
Horizontal Symmetry
Horizontal symmetry is often used in landscape photography. Especially when a body of water is present. This can be confused with reflective symmetry. The difference is that horizontal symmetry does not necessarily have to feature a reflection. Reflective symmetry always does.
The following beach photo shows the horizon reaching the sky, and the horizontal lines of the waves, and the line between the sand and water.
Seville was one of our stops during the Spain tour. This photo shows both vertical and horizontal symmetry. This is the Plaza de España in Seville built in 1928. It is a landmark example of Regionalism Architecture, mixing elements of the Baroque Revival, Renaissance Revival and Moorish Revival styles of Spanish architecture.
Radial Symmetry
Radial symmetry usually involves shapes that go round and round with the same patterns. This is often associated with ripples, succulents, domes, wheels, etc.
There are many circular layers in the Central Garden at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Reflective Symmetry
As its name suggests, reflective symmetry is all about reflections. We can find reflections in water, surfaces like glass, and buildings to create a mirror image.
This is the Patio de los Arrayanes in Alhambra, Spain. The image of the building is reflected in the pond.
Our favorite get away is the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in Los Angeles. This part of the Chinese Garden is reflected in the pond.
The Showers of Blessings 
Wonderful lesson! I would like to go to one of these places some day.
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It would be wonderful if you could travel some day.
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Well done, Miriam!
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Thank you for reading, Mark!
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Majestic! Love the Chinese garden pond click
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I love the Chinese garden also. Thank you for your comment.
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Beautiful, Miriam. You’ve picked a few of my favorite places, which is just “icing on the cake,” because I’ve traveled back through the years. ❤
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Thank you, Gwen. I hope to travel again soon. Right now, we can’t go to two family weddings because of the virus. At least we could go see it granddaughters in Oregon. 💖
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These are beautiful photographs! You have a very good eye for symmetry.
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All the time I did pointed and clicked, I was not happy when they were not centered, leveled, or balanced. I ended up not being able to use those photos. Well, just learned the lesson and be patient to get the symmetric ones when possible. Thank you, Liz.
I have to catch up visiting blogs. WP got me frustrated with the block editor.
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You’re welcome, Miriam. So far I’ve been able to continue using the classic editor. I guess I’m living on borrowed time, in that regard.
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Good to hear, Liz, that you continue to used the classic editor. I had so many problem with the block editor and asked the happy engineer to switch. They said they can’t maintain three software, classic, block, and the classic within the block. I sent several screen shots to them, one said they’re working on those bugs, and just point out some ways to get around them. In other words, I have to learn to use at least the classic editor within the block.
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Hmm. It seems I’m living on borrowed time with my ability to continue with classic.
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I don’t understand why some blogs like yours still maintain the classic. I saw the warning from another blog about the change might come automatically. The next time I turned on the computer, my blog was switched. Oh well, I’ll just use the basic from the block editor. I don’t need all the fancy blocks.
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The only reason I can think of is that I’m using a theme that is a couple of years old.
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That could be it. I think they are converting the blogs by themes or plans in phases. I emailed them many times with questions. They wouldn’t be able to handle the questions if they convert all the blogs all at once. On the WordPress blog, it says they’d provide support to the classic editor (within block editor) until 2022. I’m afraid after that, they would only have block editor. They hope to fix all the bugs by then.
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I grumble when I’m forced to learn a new version of favorite software, but I can learn it without my trouble. Now, if it’s buggy, that’s another story!
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Many new versions of software seem to be free of bugs even though different, but WP has bugs from the onset until now.
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Beautiful images Miriam, sorry about the WP issues. I guess I’m happy to have stayed with the classic editor. Lots of complaints about the Block version. Loved the tea garden especially. What a beautiful spot for a wedding!
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I would have stayed with the classic editor, but it switched on me without options. I couldn’t do anything about that.
I think that restaurant has many wedding banquets!
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Yikes! Pretty sure you can go back Miriam. I saw something a while back in the help section.
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What that means is there’s a classic editor in the block editor, but it’s not any simpler.
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Oh No!!! I am NOT going!!!
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I hope they don’t switch you automatically. I don’t know why they did that to me. Perhaps they do that in phases.
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Oh gosh Miriam, I certainly hope not!!! When you spoke to the not-such-happiness engineers was there any way for you to go back to classic??
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No, Tina. I think they just phase out the classic gradually. I asked to switch last year and they showed me how to do it. Right now, the link to switch back is gone. I don’t think there’s an option anymore. Even the classic editor within block editor is only good until 2022.
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WOW. Excellent examples Miriam. Great variety. REALLY well done.
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Thank you so very much, John. These are all I have to sue for the examples, not too many left I don’t use. I’m glad you liked them.
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Excellent collections for this theme, Miriam! All were beautifully captured. The reflections of the last image, perfect!
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I thought reflection is a category by itself, didn’t know it also falls on symmetry. I had a chance to learn something. I love that because I don’t take photography classes so I love to learn something from the challenge. Thank you, Amy.
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Reflection symmetry is new to me. Your photo is remarkable!
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Hi Miriam, “Learned something new” is always one of the fun parts of almost everything. Especially with photography. A WOW on the Tea Garden! Actually, a WOW for all of the photos. I found the Radial symmetry intriguing. A beautiful post!
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Oh, Erica, a WOW on your comment! Thank you so much! I just love it when I learn something. The radial symmetry is intriguing and I can’t find too many photos in the category. I would love to take some photos of the water dropping on a still pond to create ripples. How are you doing? I have to see if you have any new psot.
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I have just returned from an unplugged camping trip at Long Beach, West Coast of Vancouver Island. We had lots of rain, yet a great place to rest, recharge and replenish my spirit. A real treat Miriam to return and visit your beautiful site! ❤️
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So glad to hear you had a wonderful camping trip, Erica. I know it rained north of us. We’re waiting for some rain. It projected a wet winter here which is always welcome since we have a drought. Hope you post about your trip. ❤
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Just did, Definitely a few changes camping this year. Wishing you and family well amidst all that is going on, weather and…… Hugs! ❤️
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Good to hear. I’ll turn on my computer after dinner to check out your camping post. 💖
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Wonderful to be able to travel through your photos. The Hongkong and Japan are my faves.
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Thank you for your reading and comment, Teresa. I would love to go back to Hong Kong and Japan.
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I am hoping to see Japan too one day!
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Yes, Teresa, I hope to do the same. The pandemic is not making any earlier for us to travel for a while.
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It is something to look forward to, Miriam.
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Exactly, Teresa!!
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WOW! I feel like I’ve traveled all over. What a stunning gallery, Miriam. Exceptional!!!
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It took a little while to go through the travel folder to find examples, Mae. It’s part of my pleasure to take photos on our trips. Thank you for your comment.
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Wonderful gallery Miriam 😀
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Thank you, Brain for your comment and for coming back to check it out. 🙂
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Great photos . I had no idea that there were so many different types of symmetry
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I learned something new also, Bella. Photography is interesting. Thank you for your comment.
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😊
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I often feel like we get to travel with you when you shared from your trips – nice way to explain the symmetry for photography
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Thank you, Yvette. That’s something good about the photo challenge. I get to go through the travel photos and it refreshes my mind of where we’ve been also.
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It was so good
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Hi, Miriam. You’ve shown us a beautiful gallery of images which highlight different forms of symmetry. Wonderful! I love the tile work in the Plaza in Seville. Stunning.
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Thank you, Patti for giving me another opportunity to learn more about symmetry. I love the tile work also. Each section (I want to call it both or armchair) tells a different story.
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Beautiful images, Miriam. I’m happy I popped back over. I love the reflective symmetry.
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Something happened to the block editor. I was not happy when talking to the happy engineers at WP.
I’m glad you came back and liked the post, Jill. Thank you!
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❤️
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Miriam, these are beautiful images. And one stands out for me — the first one taken in Osaka, a place I’ve visited and loved for all kinds of visuals. You’ve also taught me the difference between horizontal imagery and reflective imagery, and for that I’m grateful. It’s good to know that even at my age, I’m still learning! Thanks for a lovely post.
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Hi Rusha, we went to Nara to see the deer, but the shrine was right there. We were glad to visit there. I didn’t know the difference between the two symmetries until yesterday when I looked it up. It makes sense to me now. Thank you so much for your comment!
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You’re welcome. And thanks for sharing with all of us.
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Very nice selections for this. Bravo!
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I was glad to find some photos the fall into different categories, Chris. Thank you for your comment!
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Nor me!
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But now that I see them it was worth coming back for. Lovely!
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Thank you so much for coming back. I got mad at WP and sent them a long email with several screenshots showing them my problem. I don’t like the block editor at all.
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Sorry, Peter. Thank you for coming back.
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Not your fault Miriam, no need to apologise. It’s the fact that WP need to understand “If it’s not broken don’t fix it!”
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Exactly, Peter. Sometimes I think some people try to find work for themselves to get paid.
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I can’t see any images either Miriam
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Thank you, Brian. I’m fixing it.
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Thank you, Brian. I fixed it.
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? Maybe it is just me, but I do not see an image
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Sorry, Trent. Thank you for stopping by. You may want to click on and off, hope you’d get the images.
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Nope, not yet. Maybe something strange due to the new editor?
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Thank you, I’m fixing it.
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Glad I came back to see: Great photos 🙂
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Thank you for your other comment to get my attention, otherwise I just thought people looked at the post but didn’t comment. I appreciated that, Trent. 🙂
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I’m glad I could be of help 🙂
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Thanks again, Trent. 🙂
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