Photography 1: The Art of Photography

Project: Rhythm and Pattern
Exercise: Rhythms and Patterns

For this exercise I looked for situations that would convey rhythm or pattern.  The rhythm photogragh needs to have a sequence so that the eye will follow a direction and experience an optical beat.  The pattern photograph needs to have no boundaries to the pattern.  Patterns work strongly when they fill the frame, so that the eye can imagine them continuing  well beyond it.

6195.jpg; Nikon D300; 18-70mm lens; F14.0; 1/50s

This photograph features a row of statues in Madrid.  They lead the eye towards a statue  at the end of the row.  The spacing of the statues forms an optical beat.

6202.jpg; Nikon D300; 18-70mm lens; F16.0; 1/80s

The brickwork in this photograph form a number of patterns.  The patterns in the brickwork fill the frame, so that the eye can imagine them continuing well beyond it.

What have I learned from this exercise ?

Repetition has a peculiar but generally very strong appeal, particularly when it is unfamiliar to the viewer.  There is a visual beat to pictures containing a repetitive theme.  Visually, repetition comes across in in two ways: as rhythm and as a pattern.  The difference between them is that rhythm is to do movement across a picture while pattern is essentially static and has to do with area.

For photographs of pattern, care must be taken with the framing.  Show no boundaries to the pattern.  Patterns work strongly when they fill the frame, so that the eye can imagine them continuing well beyond it.  Repeating patterns can be very powerful and stimulating to the eye.  For this reason images that use repeating patterns are quite successful.