Balance gives a photo the sense of stability and harmony. It helps the viewer's eye move naturally through the photo. It can be shown through shape, tone, color, and placement.
These pictures below are showing color balance. Color balance is when a small touch of color balances an otherwise, dull photo.
This picture shows color balance, because the different colors form the sunset are brighter than the tree and the ground. The bright colors "weigh" more than the dark, less bright colors.
This photo shows color balance as well, because the yellow/orange and the blue are much brighter than the dirt ground and the trees.
These pictures below are representing conceptual balance. Conceptual balance is when two subjects in a photo create "conflict", or contrast. An example of this would be: Old vs. New, or Manmade vs. Organic. In the photos below I was displaying, manmade vs organic.
In this photo I was using conceptual balance, because there are lots of trees and nature, which is organic, but there is also several four-wheelers and a house in the background, which are manmade. That shows a contest between manmade and organic subjects.
This photo shows conceptual balance, because there is a house, which is manmade surrounded by woods, which is organic. You can also see there is the moon in the background, which would also be part of nature, not manmade.
This one also displays tonal balance, which is when the darker subjects feel "heavier" and the brighter subject are "lighter". The house lights are brighter than the woods, which creates tonal balance.
In this photo there is a contrast between the beautiful sunset and the four-wheeler. The sunset is surrounded by fields and a few trees, which are organic, and the four-wheeler is manmade, creating conceptual balance.
These photos below are representing subject balance. Subject balance is when there is a foreground subject and background subject in a picture. It creates depth and interest.
This photo is showing subject balance, because Parker is the subject on the four-wheeler and there are trees and a corn field in the background. The sun is also setting. The background is leading into a subtle point, which also makes the subject stand out more.
This photo shows balance because the buildings are all at different spots, which leads the viewer's eye towards the back of the picture. The trees also add to the photo because they are all at different spots, which creates depth.
These photos shown below are showing symmetric balance. Symmetric balance is when both sides of the picture, top and bottom, hold "equal weight". It creates a calm and stable feeling.
In this picture you can see how the trees are leading up, they are all in a line. The same amount of the tree is shown from the top to bottom, creating symmetric balance.
This picture shows symmetric balance because all the trees are almost all lined up. The trees look almost identical from on both sides from the middle.
This photo shows symmetric balance, because the mountains are reflecting off the water creating a mirror-like reflection. The reflection is completely the same. They have equal weight. I chose this picture as my featured image, because I think it shows symmetric balance very well. I also think it is a very beautiful picture. The colorful leaves on the trees help the photo stand out even more. The trees reflecting on the water also have a calming effect, because I think water is very peaceful.