“Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”
-William Blake
This week my assignment for the 52 photo challenge was to capture something with symmetry. Although it’s such a simple concept, I found it extremely challenging. I started out looking for mirrored images and reflections, but every image I took felt flat and boring. My perfectionist’s brain was narrowing my vision and I just couldn’t find anything that worked.
My solution—take more photos and think less. The bottles above are a great example. While they seem to contain a symmetrical quality to me, they do have variations in shade and labels. Do they still work? I’m not sure. Does it matter? Not really. The idea of this challenge is to train my eye to look for different elements in a photo. By this definition, I’m doing just fine.
These photos were taken on a rainy day in downtown Lincoln and on the road to and from Camp Far West with my mom and daughter. Let me know which shot you think best uses the concept of symmetry and which is your favorite. Have a wonderful week!
- Photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW
- If you want to join the 52 Photo Challenge, you can find all the information at nicolesy.com
52 Photo Challenge
Week 1: Bokeh
Week 2: Silhouette
Week 3: Black and White
Week 4: Motion Blur
Week 5: Texture
Week 6: Framing
Week 7: Leading Lines
Week 8: Negative Space
Week 9: Patterns
I like bridge #1 and the bottles the best. I’m probably the odd one this week. 😉
This was going to be my answer as well 🙂 Beautiful work, as always, Bridgette!!!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked those as well. That bridge was really cool.
Thanks Michael. That’s my favorite too.
I like #1 bridge the best!
Thanks Paula! I do think it’s the best example of symmetry. It’s such a cool bridge.
I love all of them. They have very solid composition but my favorite is the last one.👀
Thanks! Isn’t that fountain and flowers beautiful? I had to keep the color of that one. I loved it so much ❤️
So lovely.🥺
I love the bridge composition best, excellent symmetry, Bridgette. ❤️
Thanks John! I think you are right. It’s probably the only shot we true symmetry.
All good photos though, Bridgette. ❤️
1. I like old bridges like that.
Me too! I didn’t even know this one was so close to me. I love where I live! There are so many back roads to explore.
Yes! I love exploring back roads.
Great symmetry in 1 and 2; loved the contrasting framing in 8 🙂
Interesting mix of bridge snapshots! 👏
Thanks Tom. Yes, I think those two are for sure the best ones. I really loved 8 as well with the “hell yeah” sticker. Someone had to climb pretty high to place that.
Missed the sticker at first look – good catch!
You dropped this 💁♀️👑
I live the windows into another world – a transient world
Me too! I love window shots.
And reflections 😂
Totally!
#10, the fountain. It’s not perfect symmetry but there’s something very graceful about it set in front of the background of pink blossoms. Be careful when you go out, some of the backroads are underwater or worse, broken to bits.
Thank you. I had other shots of the fountain that showed its symmetry, but I loved the composition of this one so much I had to share it anyway. Yes, we luckily made it back home before the storm got really going. It’s been a wild winter for us-we aren’t used to this much rain.
1 and 5 are my favorites.
Thanks Nicole. I really like the simplicity of 5 and I’m glad you do too.
You did a fine job! I love your photography.
#9 is my favorite
Thanks Michele! I’m glad you like 9. I thought it was an interesting angle. Plus, I’m a sucker for a beautiful brick wall.
My pleasure! I like all of them, but #9 has an interesting depth of field. Brick walls are interesting yes, especially the historic ones.
Great & perfect Symmetry. Nice different label bottle photography. All-over photography excellent. But I much like photos 1st, 2nd & last is blooming.
Thanks Bridgette 🌹
Thanks! I’m so glad you think these photos work. Your kindness means so much ❤️
You are most welcome 🌷!
Number 8 does it for me; it’s also my favorite!
Thanks! I’m really found of that one too. I love empty space in a photo.
Love your black and white photos, which seem to be telling me something that I can’t quite decipher. They look very symmetrical to me. I guess both nature and human love symmetries for some inexplicable reasons.
Thanks! I’m so glad you like my photos and they are speaking to you. 🙂
I love all the monochrome photos, Bridgette. Great shots. I’m glad that you’re more accepting of yourself when it comes to perfection. I think there is a part of all of us that would like to be perfect, but as humans, none of us really are. I like the photo of the train doors, although my favourite photo is #2 of the perfectly straight bridge over the water. I love how still the water is still and perfect its reflections are. I also like #10 because the water drops are so clear and precise. You have captured them spot on. Hope you and your daughter are well, my friend. Xx 💐💖
Thank you so much, Ellie. I’m so glad you liked all those photos. I really loved the #2 bridge too. It was nice to capture it’s reflection. Have a wonderful day!
They’re all so good, but I like #1, 6, & 8. 🙂
Thanks so much, Lauren. I’m so lucky to have such cool bridges nearby to photograph. Tomorrow I’m off in search of green and new growth. I’m excited to see what I can find.
I love bridges and can’t have enough photos of the GGB. Have fun! Can’t wait to see your discoveries!
Read this post second to your later one. Good heart, your choice to “think less”. I like your process here.
However, loved your starting quote, “fearful symmetry”. A powerful provocative theme (more than just symmetry I think). And you found an answer I think – #3, 6, 7 especially. Usually I turn away from graffiti, but you made it something more fierce here. Much much good.
I’m so glad those photos work for you. Yes, thinking less critically while still striving to find something beautiful (bringing thoughtful intention to all) is what I’m striving for. Sometimes I get so caught up in the fear of time slipping away, or the anxiety of not knowing enough, but I remind myself constantly that everyone is on a different path. We meander our own way, have our own obstacles to climb, and to be patient. Kindness, one of my most treasured virtues, must be extended to myself as well. 🙂
Well👍🏻
Thanks!