2020 Photo Challenge #6

February’s theme / technique: Being Creative with Patterns

The six visual keys to a great photograph are:

• • Patterns
  • Texture
  • Lines
  • Light
  • Depth of field
  • Space

This month we are going to look at Patterns. Patterns can be found everywhere, in nature or man-made constructions. For a photographer, using patterns is key to a good composition.

They are made up of repeated objects, geometric shapes or abstract patterns, or colours and they may be random or ordered. Visual patterns in nature are often loose and organic – think of spirals, waves, rock formations, sand.

• • Try using patterns as the main subject of your photo with the focal point on the patterns removing the context.
  • Or you can use the pattern as a backdrop to something else.
  • Try abstract imagery using close-up photography – peeling paint, rust stains for example
  • Break the pattern, for instance position one red apple in the midst of a pile of green ones. And of course remembering the rule of thirds, any break should be on an intersection.
  • Create your own patterns.
  • Combine patterns. Contrasting or complementary patterns work well.

This week's assignment – Shoot from a different perspective. Look up, look down or shoot from a distance.

At the Eden Project you can find no end of patterns from the man-made constructions and sculptures to the flowers though I was concentrating on the patterns of the biomes.

Firstly from a distance

and then from the inside of the tropical biome, looking up.

Nature has some intriguing patterns if you look closely.

Take this bromeliad: by changing the viewpoint / angle and orientation you can create different effects.

Portrait

Landscape

Close-up

One of my favourite plants to photograph is this spiral aloe (Aloe polyphylla) which fascinates me with its stunning spiral shape. Best viewed from above, though it can be impressive from a side angle too.

Actually succulents are some of the most fascinating plants to photograph for their architectural appearance rather than colour, though when you look closely at this aloe the lime green edge of the leaves suddenly becomes noticeable.

But there is nothing subtle these Gazanias, shot from above to capture their eye-catching patterns.

If you would like to join in with the 2020 photo challenge then please take a look at my 2020 Photo Challenge page. No complicated rules, just a camera required 🙂

• • Create your own post with some information about how you composed the shot.
  • Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
  • Add the tag #2020PhotoChallenge so everyone can find your entry easily in the WP Reader
  • Get your post(s) in by the end of the month, as the new theme comes out on the first Sunday in March.

Last week’s task was quite open: to look for various patterns such as squares, circles, spirals etc.

• Pauline found a lovely example of an organic spiral pattern
• Margaret went for a longer distance shot of a line of trees
• and Jo found lots of geometric patterns at the waterfront as did Hannah on a construction site.
• For circles take a look at Janet’s walk around a textile exhibition
• and for variety take a look at Bushboy Brian’s selection.

Thank you all for joining in with me.