Risk. Danger. Anticipation. And nerves of steel. These are the thrills and spills of photographing water droplets. There is a constant threat of danger as they dangle, so close to the edge, hanging on until the last second...then splat. Gone.
We love photographing water droplets. They are lenses within your lens, offering a new [...]
Photography >> Patterns in Nature
Patterns are everywhere. There are patterns in the way the light passes through the blinds on your window and plays across the floor. There are patterns in the cracks on the sidewalk you walk every day to your car, school, or work. There are patterns in what you do, the rhythm of your walk and movement, the music you listen to, even the voices around you.
Finding the patterns in nature means opening yourself up to nature’s design. To see the wonder in the curve of a leaf or twist of a branch. To spot the dots and lines on the back of a spider or the colorful arrangement of features on a bird.
This series of articles is from our book and workshop, “Bows and Flows of Angel Hair: Photographing the Patterns in Nature”, and is designed to help the beginner to intermediate photographer learn more about the patterns found in nature and how to photograph them. We’ll talk about camera equipment, lenses, tripods, depth of field, selective focus, closeup photography techniques, landscape, wildlife, and help you explore the patterns in nature.
Article Highlights
- Patterns in Nature - Patterns and Rhythms
- Patterns in Nature - Lines and Shapes
- Photographing Water Droplets
- Patterns in Nature - Texture and Recognition
- Patterns in Nature - Colors
- Patterns in Nature - Photographic Techniques
Photographing Water Droplets
Photography Techniques and Behind the Scenes and Closeup Photography and Patterns in Nature and Photography
Patterns in Nature - Colors
The patterns found within nature offer up wonderful photographic subjects. Lines, curves, shapes, textures, nature is filled with them. Just as a painter uses tools like paint and brushes on canvas, so a photographer uses his or her tools of a camera, film and light. In this series of articles on the nature of composition, we will examine the world of line, shape, texture, color, pattern and rhythm. We will look at shape recognition and offer you tips and advice on finding and recognizing patterns in nature. This is a great series for the nature photographer as well as the nature lover and artist. Nature is filled with patterns, and learning to find them is one of the great treasure hunts of nature photography.
Patterns in Nature - Lines and Shapes
Lines and shapes play an important role in the photographing of the patterns in nature. Lines and shapes create a sense of direction or movement. They demonstrate the forces of nature. Lines and shapes are familiar patterns, easy to recognize. Continue your photographic exploration of the patterns of nature with the lines and shapes found in nature.
Patterns in Nature - Texture and Recognition
Textures give depth and "feeling" to a subject. They are accentuated on flat surfaces by the use of side light and shadow. Look for the play of shadows on surfaces. Watch for the direction of the light and how it creates shapes and lines and forms and adds dimension to your subject. Yet, a person viewing an image feels safer when they can recognize shapes, lines and patterns. Abstracts may lead to a sense of confusion. Just as humans are always working to anthropomorphize animals' behaviors and expressions, so too we always look for familiar symbols and signs in nature.
Patterns in Nature - Patterns and Rhythms
One, two, three, one, two, three...a waltz comes to mind when you see the repeating pattern, right? Patterns and rhythms can be found throughout nature, a diverse concert of visual displays. When a patterns becomes complicated, repeating over and over or clashing together, it can become an abstract. We'll help you find the patterns and rhythms of nature with your photography, and soon you'll be dancing to the beat....
Patterns in Nature - Photographic Techniques
Photographing the patterns in nature generally involves more technique to find the patterns, but there are some photographic techniques that will help you capture the magic of the patterns in nature that you do find. You need to understand how the camera body, lens, tripod, light accessories, and other equipment and technical factors come together to enhance the patterns you are photographing. We have the books and resources to help you.
