DAY 261

PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Using Shapes and Patterns

THE EYES LOVE IT

If you desire to create more of an artistic, abstract photo, capture yourself some shapes and patterns.

There are many patterns observable in daily life: parking meters in a row, fence lines, and architectural features on walls and buildings. Look not only at objects but at the shadows those objects cast. During a recent vacation, I observed an interesting pattern of shadows on a boardwalk (below). I photographed this from several vantage points with the view from four stories above it providing the most pleasing composition.

It is not necessary to photograph outdoors to find these types of features. This photograph of leather upholstery (above) is an excellent example of using shapes and patterns indoors to create a pleasing photograph.

The above examples illustrate photographs of a single item, but shapes and patterns can also be illustrated by photographs of multiple items. A row of jars in a spice rack or an aerial view of an open box of crayons are examples of how multiple similar objects define a pattern.

Take the time to study your surroundings. More often than not, you’ll find shapes and patterns in the details of your everyday life. If you don’t find them naturally, go ahead and arrange them to suit you. There’s no rule that objects in photographs cannot be manipulated in order to create a pleasing composition. —CWN