PATTERN

Pattern primer

Symmetry and uniformity, colours and hues, and even surprising breaks in pattern can prove useful for creating aesthetic images from patterns.

ARUN BHAT, He is a professional travel photographer and writer based in Bangalore. His images and
articles have been published in many magazines and newspapers in India and abroad. See more of his works on www.paintedstork.com

Repetitive patterns usually offer opportunities to create beautiful images. Be it a series of steps, a row of seats, vehicles parked in a line or an assembly of any uniform objects, they often catches the viewer’s eye and appear beautiful in a photograph. Here is a primer to making appealing images from patterns.
Opportunities. Patterns can be easily found in nature as well as in human creations. A row of trees, a series of hills with jagged peaks, lilies crowding a small pond or a gathering of puffy clouds in sky can make interesting subjects. It is easier to find opportunities in man-made environment, where uniformity appears frequently in everyday objects. A series of pillars, any objects installed in a row, children in a school assembly or an industrial warehouse can make excellent subjects for capturing repetitive patterns.

Compositions. As a thumb rule, images of pattern taken from an angle add drama and curiosity to the pattern than images shot directly from the front. Use wide angle lenses to create a sense of excitement and convergence. They also help cover the patterns from end to end. Consider throwing part of the pattern out of focus to create a fading effect. For larger objects such as pillars or a car park, experiment compositions both by being inside the patterns as well as outside.

Break the pattern. A surprising break in the pattern suddenly adds additional interest in the frame. A little girl peeping out from the middle of an array of pillars, an animal standing next to a row of trees, a boy with colourful clothes in a group of uniformed pupil will suddenly shift the attention of the viewer to the break in the order. This in turn emphasises the subject that breaks the order.

Lighting. As in most occasions, light coming from a side at an angle almost perpendicular to the axis of the camera is likely to help create beautiful effects in the patterns. Depending on your subject, such lighting can cast long shadows which add further interest to the patterns. Such lighting also creates marked difference in the edges of the subjects, hence creating a better perception of depth. If you are shooting outdoors, the best times are usually mornings and evenings, as is the case with most subjects.