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What About Balance and Tension?
ASK A PHOTOGRAPHER ABOUT BALANCE AND TENSION in a photograph and they’ll look at you like you just asked them about the mathematics of hyperfocal distance. Actually, that’s unfair; I know a number of photographers who could speak at length about the latter. I know fewer who can speak about the former. But ask a painter or sculptor the same question, and they’ll have thoughts on the matter.
Balance and tension have a great deal to do with the feel of an image. But for all their importance, I have yet to read a good definition of balance or tension, which I think is okay here, as I’m less interested in defining the terms than I am in talking about them and posing questions and ideas that will help you use them ...
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