Architecture pics that showcase notions of balance and stability are important aspects of composition to consider when making photos of buildings on our travels. I’ve found that’s particularly the case when government, sovereign or religious buildings are depicted.

Creating architecture pics displaying balance and stability is achieved through symmetry, subject placement, framing and the juxtaposition of both similar and opposing visual elements within the composition. Showcasing balance and stability in this way results in cohesive and harmonious photos.

Let’s explore how to create balance and symmetry by examining architectural pics from Vienna, Bruges and St. Petersburg.

Architecture Pics that Achieve Balance Through Symmetry

Wandering around Vienna late in the day I found myself in the grounds of the Austrian Parliament.

This grand building is no doubt a remnant from the Hapsburg era when the Austro-Hungarian empire was a dominant force in continental Europe.

I was careful to compose the above image in such a way to highlight the symmetry within the building’s design. I was able to do this by emphasizing a series of pairs within the composition.

Notice how the statues, columns and stone blocks balance each other. This balance adds to the long term stability suggested by the stone itself.

It’s the stability originally offered through the might of Austro-Hungarian rule, now visible as vestiges of history evident in this important historic structure.

Architecture Pics That Showcase Days Of Glory, Long Past

While post processing the above image I opted for a slightly grungy, desaturated rendering of the scene as a way of depicting the faded glory of days gone by.

Yet the intense blue from the sky, that’s reflected in the windows, provides a nice color contrast with the subtle warmth of days end that’s reflected off the stone.

For a sense of history Vienna is a great place to visit. What's more, the historically rich and delightful city of Salzburg is only a few hours away.

If you make it to Austria it’s well worth visiting both cities. Vienna is glorious with grand sites like Schönbrunn Palace.

Salzburg is romantic and the old town can be easily explored on foot.

Photographing the Executioner’s Cottage in Salzburg was fun and tagging along on a Sound Of Music Tour was an absolute hoot.

I must say I particularly enjoyed my time in Salzburg and I’m eagerly awaiting my next travel photography adventure to Vienna.

Balance And Composition In Architecture

Composition, which is the arrangement of individual visual elements or points of interest within the photographic frame, is key to producing a cohesive and harmonious architecture pic.

I photographed this detail on the facade of the Bruges Town Hall in the fading twilight. The golden statues really stood out and I further emphasized them through a carefully balanced composition.

Twilight is the time of day when most folks are either heading home or getting ready to go out to dinner.

But twilight can be a great time when photographing architecture, whether or not it's preceded by a great sunset.

The transition from day to night is a quiet period when time seems to slow. It’s a great time to explore notions of peace and tranquility in your photos.

If the composition of your architecture pics is based around balance and stability you’ll go a long way to successfully showcasing those notions.

Bruges is probably my favourite mid size European city and I spent several wonderful days exploring the old medieval town.

Even though it was late summer the weather was changeable. Still, despite heavy rainfall, I was surprised just how warm it was.

The changeable weather created some problems making it a little hard to get around and resulting in me getting soaked on a couple of occasions.

Nonetheless, the fickle weather also brought new opportunities for photos and I had a lot of fun photographing Bruges throughout the day and well into the night.

While most tourists stayed indoors during the rain I wandered the cobbled stone streets and soaked in the history of Bruges in peaceful bliss.

I also had a ball making night photos on several rainy evenings and remember seeking shelter in a local bar where I enjoyed a drink and a chat with some local gals.

Booze and photography does not always provide the safest balance in life. However, when undertaken in moderation, a most joyous experience can result. 

Architecture Pics Exploring Balance and Stability Along the Neva River

The above photo was one of many architecture pics I made while undertaking a cruise along the Neva River in the beautiful and cosmopolitan Russian city of St. Petersburg.

The cruise was great fun and provided an interesting perspective of the city’s architecture, compared to what you’d normally experience from street level.

You’ll find unique photos can be made from the waterline and, if you get the opportunity, a city cruise along the Neva River and its associated canals in St. Petersburg is well worth taking part in.

You’ll notice that balance and stability are also key to the design of this image. On one hand it’s just a photo of a group of statues.

However, by designing the image around elements of composition the photo moves beyond the objects depicted.

That’s interesting and one of the ways to elevate a photo from snapshot towards art.

Of course you don’t have to compose your photo in such a way that elements on the left and right of the frame balance perfectly with each other.

That’s the reason why placement of the horizon exactly in the middle of the frame isn’t always recommended.

But it can work, particularly when you want to explore notions of balance, harmony and tranquility.

However, adding some visual tension, as I’ve done here, through a slightly asymmetrical composition can also work.

A good way to achieve this is to compose the image in such a way so that a subtle misalignment between top and bottom, or left and right, elements within the frame can produce a more visually dynamic result.

That’s what I did when making this photo of statues while cruising along the Neva River in St. Petersburg.

All I had to do to ensure the photo wasn’t completely symmetrical was to make sure that the space on the left and right of the frame wasn’t equal.

So, while male and female statues balance each other, the difference in the amounts of space on the left and right sides of the frame introduces a slight sense of visual tension to the image. And that’s what makes you look at it that little bit longer.

Like Venice and Bruges, St. Petersburg is a city of canals and, just like Bruges, it’s sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North.

I loved my time in St. Petersburg, photographing the rich culture of that glorious city.

Highlights from my travels to St. Petersburg included visits to the following tourist attractions:

• Hermitage Museum

• Peterhof Summer Palace

• Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

• A boat trip along the Neva River

• Photographing Russian Navy Day during a night photography adventure

Creating beautiful architecture pics was a big part of my exploration of each of the sites visited, and many of those photos are underpinned by strong composition based around balance and stability.

Conclusion: How To Make Well Balanced Photos

Have no doubt, composition is a great way by which we can all improve our photography.

If you want to make architecture pics that explore notions of balance and stability composition is how to do so.

Concentrate your attention on similar elements within the scene and position them, within the frame, in a way that achieves a sense of balance that’s appropriate to the composition or mood you want to explore.

The best way to begin to master balance and stability in your photography is to practice by making a few simple still life images at home.

Try photographing two pieces of fruit or, perhaps, two tiny toys against a simple and uncluttered background.

Vary the position of the two pieces of fruit in the frame, paying attention to the space between them and between the fruit and the edges of the frame.

It’s an interesting exercise and you’ll be surprised how simple changes in subject placement, framing and perspective can produce quite different results.

Glenn Guy, Travel Photography Guru