Scale and Perspective: From Quantum to Cosmic
Techniques and Tricks of Photography
Photo Balance
Balance is a composition technique that is used to arrange elements of a photograph within the frame to achieve an equal balance throughout the image. An image can be considered ‘balanced’ when each element can hold the viewers’ attention equally throughout the image. Using this technique means composing the frame so that all its elements have an equal amount of power within the photograph. The images below provide examples of photo balance. The one on the left balances different elements on photography to showcase the suffering of Orangutans as a result of land clearing. The photographer has captured sad look on the face of the animal, which makes the viewer empathise with Orangutans. The photo on the left shows a crater lake formed after volcano eruption in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.
The effectiveness of scientific photography depends not only on technical accuracy but also on the thoughtful application of compositional techniques that enhance clarity, visual impact, and communication of information. While scientific images must faithfully represent their subjects, photographers can employ a range of conventional photographic techniques to guide the viewer’s attention, emphasise important features, and provide contextual understanding. Techniques such as perspective, framing, leading lines, depth of field, lighting, and the rule of thirds are particularly valuable in scientific photography because they help present subjects in a manner that is both informative and visually engaging. When applied appropriately, these compositional approaches enable scientific photographs to document observations with precision while also revealing patterns, structures, behaviours, and relationships that may otherwise be overlooked. The following examples illustrate how these conventional techniques can be used effectively to enhance the communication and aesthetic quality of scientific photographs.
Viewpoints for Multiple Perspectives of the Subject
Multiple viewpoints allow the viewer to observe the subject from different sides or even a 360° view. Viewpoints, therefore, refer to the position of the camera in relation to the subject. It is predominantly a still image capturing technique, where the photographer places the camera at a specific location and captures the desired shot at the right time to capture the desired dimension of the subject. Perspective of the photograph provides for the sense of depth and spatial relationships within the photograph itself. The photos below provide examples of different viewpoints of insects revealing specific details, which could be used education as well as deduction of facts useful for research.
Dorsal and sideview of Green Lacewing
(Varenhorst et al, 2023)
Orientation and Placement
Camera angle is a fundamental compositional technique that influences how a subject is perceived and interpreted. By selecting an appropriate viewpoint, photographers can emphasise specific characteristics, reveal spatial relationships, and direct the viewer’s attention to key features of a scene. Advances in photographic technology, including wide-angle lenses and drone-mounted cameras, have expanded the range of perspectives available, enabling subjects to be documented from ground level, elevated positions, and even aerial viewpoints.
Landscape vs. Portrait
(Vijayakumar 2023)
Minimalist Photography
Minimalist photography is a technique that emphasizes simplicity in the composition. It prioritizes using clean lines, negative space, and a single subject to create a visually calming and impactful image. The main outcome is to reduce the elements of the image to essentials, allowing the photographer to have a minimal and visually engaging design. It involves using a plain background, avoiding clutter, and keeping the colour palette minimal. The photo on the right shows the impact of human action on the environment. It reveals the devastating impact of an oil spill on a pelican. This image thus helps the viewers imagine the overall impact on flora and fauna associated with marine pollution and evokes in them a strong reaction.
Rule of 3rds to augment context of the Subject
Rule of 3rds is a composition technique that places the subject in one third of image space. Subject is usually placed in the left or right third of an image, making the other two thirds more open. This technique divides the frame into a 3 by 3 grid, which helps to place the subject on the left or right third of the frame to make the photograph look more interesting. In rule of 3rds photography, the main point of focus is to one side or on the top or bottom third of an image. The photos below show examples of this technique and demonstrate a Great Egret, where the negative space also balances the energy of the flying bird and a red eyed tree frog in Costa Rica.
Microscopic/Magnification Photography
Microscopic photography is better known as ‘microscopy photography’. Microscopy photography refers to the art of creating/taking photographs with the aid of a microscope. The microscope helps create an image known as a ‘micrograph’ which then renders an image of the subject. The microscope is attached to a computer, which captures the high resolution image and saves it in desired format such as Jpeg, Gif, or Png. Magnification photography is better known as ‘macro photography’. These are images in which subjects is displayed larger than what it looks like in real life. It is often used to emphasise the finer details of the subject helping it to achieve a more dramatic effect. The following phots provide examples of microscopic and macro photography.
Pelican Affected by Oil Spill
(Balmer 2014)
Red Eyed Tree Frog Great White Egret
(Seifert, 2019) (Andersen, n.d.)
Plight of the Orangutan Volcano Crater Lake
(Jayaprakash Joghee Bojan in (Jacod, 2017)) (Wei-Haas, 2018))
A Mandala made Of Desmids (Algae) Butterfly
(Atherton, 2013) (Dam, 2022)
Bibliography
Adobe (n.d.)Thinking small for a big impact with macro photography, Adobe, viewed 5 April 2026 <https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/photography/discover/macro-photography.html>
Andersen, D (n.d.), Wildlife Photography Storytelling, Animalinfo Publications, viewed 2 April 2026 <https://wildanimalinfo.com/wildlife-photography-storytelling/>
Atherton, K.D. (2013), 6 Bright Microscopic Images of Life, Popular Science, viewed 2 April 2026 <https://www.popsci.com/article/science/6-bright-microscopic-images-life/>
Balmer, J. (2014), Seabird Losses from Deepwater Horizon oil Spill Estimated at Hundreds of Thousands, Science, viewed 2 April 2026 <https://www.science.org/content/article/seabird-losses-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-estimated-hundreds-thousands>
DiLonardo, M.J. (2020), Photographer Captures Stunning Image of Eagle in Symmetrical Reflection, Treehugger - Sustainability for All, viewed 4 April 2026 <https://www.treehugger.com/photographer-captures-image-eagle-symmetrical-reflection-4864394>
Dam, P. (2022), How to Capture Butterfly Photography, Adorama, viewed 2 April 2026 <https://www.adorama.com/alc/how-to-butterfly-photography/>
Jacobs, S. (2017), 20 stunning photos of unreal landscapes, incredible animals, and mesmerizing underwater scenes, Business Insider, viewed 5 April 2026 <https://www.businessinsider.com/national-geographic-photo-winners-nature-photographer-2017-12>
Mallone, L. (2020), Uncanny Portraits of Perfectly Symmetrical Pets, Wired, viewed 4 April 2026 <https://www.wired.com/story/perfectly-symmetrical-pets/>
Northey, T. (n.d.), How to use and break, the rule of thirds, Adobe, viewed 5 April 2026 <https://www.adobe.com/au/creativecloud/photography/discover/rule-of-thirds.html>
Peres, M. (2022), An introduction to microscope photography: How to use a microscope and digital camera to reveal details too small to see with the naked eye, PopPhoto, viewed 4 April 2026 <https://www.popphoto.com/tips-pro-microscopic-photography/>
Seifert, J. (2019), The Big Picture: Why Sustain Biodiversity, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, viewed 20 April 2026 <https://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/news/big-picture-why-sustain-biodiversity>
Stalcup, K., Taylor, L., and Powell, E. (2023), Twin-Flagged Jumping Spider Anasaitis Canosa (Walckenaer, 1837) (Arachnida: Araneae: Salticidae), IFAS Extension University of Florida, viewed 5 April 2026 <https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/130851/137091>
Varenhorst, A., Rozeboom, P., Wagner, P. (2023), Green Lacewings: Beneficial Predators for Both Small and Large-Scale Landscapes, South Dekota State University SDSU Extension, viewed 2 April 2026 <https://extension.sdstate.edu/green-lacewings-beneficial-predators-both-small-and-large-scale-landscapes>
Wei-Haas, M. (2018), Volcanoes, explained, National Geographic, viewed 2 April 2026 <https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/volcanoes>
This is not an exhaustive list of composition techniques available for science photography. However they represent some of the most used techniques in capturing scientific knowledge.
Symmetrical Photography
In symmetrical photography, elements of an image are mirrored across an imaginary line, creating a sense of balance and order. Symmetrical leading lines can also create a strong sense of depth and draw the viewers’ attention. By placing the subject in centre and mirroring elements around it, photographers can draw attention to the focal point. There are different types of symmetry used in photography, i.e., vertical and horizontal symmetry, exhibited in the photographs below.
Wingspan of Bald Eagle in Flight
(Photo credit – Steve Biro in (DiLonardo, 2020))