Searching for Pattern in Landscape
Photography
-
The human eye dislike chaos, and
searching for pattern is one way of making sense out of a disorderly
world; we see "a ring of trees" or "a line of rocks", even where no
real connection exists between the objects that we mentally group
together. In a photograph, such groupings are especially valuable,
being an easily-identified theme from which to start exploring other
aspects of the image, such as color or tonal qualities.
-
Some aspects of landscape lend themselves
naturally to pattern-making. For example, the receding tide leaves a
snaking pattern of small ridges and furrows on the drying sand. The
wind whips up similar shapes, albeit on a very much larger scale, in
loose sand on the ocean's margin. And at the other extreme, many
natural phenomena create patterns at a level measured in millimeters
rather than miles - think of the spreading patterns of lichen on rock.
-
Size and scale, in fact, are the
essential factors in making good pictures of all these natural
patterns. Pattern on a grand scale, such as sand-dunes, generally
demands a distant viewpoint or a wide-angle lens, so that you can
explore in your pictures the repetition that goes to make up the
pattern. If you're aiming at a really graphic image, photograph such
large-scale patterns in sunlight; but if small details in the scene are
appealing, favor instead cloudy weather which creates fewer dense
obscuring shadows.
-
With medium-scale patterns you can afford
to be more casual about technique - lighting and lenses are less
important than a keen eye for the arrangements of landscape elements
that will make a good picture, and choice of the best camera angle.
-
Small-scale patterns take some seeking
out too, but once more photo-skills come into play. Hard, raking
sunlight reveals textures and patterns that pass unnoticed in cloudy
weather, so the early morning or a sunny winter's day are ideal times
to take pictures. To close-in on small details, you'll need to use
close-up accessories such as a macro lens, extension tubes or close-up
supplementary lenses. Sharpness is critical in macro-pattern pictures,
so use a small aperture for maximum depth of field.
|