Project 52, Week 8, Radial Symmetry

This week we're discussing Radial Symmetry which is symmetrical arrangement around a center point, or symmetry in a circle.  Think sunflower, snowflake, or sand dollar.  (If you are following the 2012-Project-12-52-365 page, you may notice that I switched the topics for weeks 8 and 9.) 

Types of radiation patterns (2 D Design page 24):

• Centrifugal (like a sunflower or snowflake)
• Concentric (like a dartboard or other target)
• Spiraling (like a fully blooming rose)
• Centripetal (like a half-opened rose, a spiral staircase viewed from the top down) (Frankly, I have difficulty discerning centrifugal from centripetal in many photographs labeled "centripetal".  Think of centrifugal as spinning outward and centripetal as spiraling inward.)

Here is one example of radial symmetry.  This picture of a snow crystal (snow flake) was taken by Wilson Bentley, the Snowflake Man. Mr. Bentley was a self-educated farmer and the first person to photograph a single snowflake in 1885. Yep, 1885.

(This photo is in the  public domain because it was never copyrighted or the copyright has expired.  It was acquired from Wikimedia Commons)

 Suggested Reading and Photograph examples:

1.  2 D Design, Radial Symmetry by Dan Collins, Arizona State College
2. The "Golden spirals" and "pentagonal" symmetry in alive nature from Golden Museum

Centrifugal

1. Centered Composition by Maddie, from Maddie's Photography; grapefruit half
2. Cnidarian Characteristics by Laura Klappenblach from Animalsabout.com
3. Purple Cone Flower from Echobirder

Centripetal

1. North Rose Window from Les Guides Nemo
2. Spiral Stairs/ from Amazing data
3. Whirlpool by Ryan Groom

Concentric

1. Concentric by Carol Stark from PictureSocial; rain drops in water
2. Agate Concentric Pattern from Microscope Talk; Summerville Lace Agate
3. Mixing Bowl Set from Ask The eBay Queen

Spiraling

1. Radially by Brian Auer from Fine Art Photography, ornamental cabbage
2. Succulent by Daniel Furon from Fine Art America
3. Clear Sundial/ by Jeffrey C De Guzman from Underwater; a seashell