Photo Tip Friday: Part 1 - Using Natural Geometric Designs in Your Photography

by Mary Denman

If you look around nature, you will notice geometric designs that occur. If you train yourself to look for these, you can take some very powerful photos. So how do you find these patterns in nature and then take great pictures? Let's get started. 

I personally study photos that I love or that strike me as beautiful. One source I notice are screen savers. Many of them are very simple and striking. So I try to capture shots similar to those. That's what I feel like I did with the photos we're discussing today. 

Here's how these pictures came about. I was in a green house and noticed this palm frond. I snapped this overall picture as I came around the corner. 

Then, I noticed the lighting! Do you see how the green of the leaf is so vibrant? The sun was illuminating it from above and since it was so tall, I could stand under it, looking up. That's why this caught my eye. 



Then, I played around with the angles of the leaf. Notice I took both vertical (portrait) and horizontal (landscape) shots. I had the time and wanted to get a really interesting picture. Or two. Or three.

As you can see, the color makes the picture pop. The lines are very striking. Where did the black lines come from? The center of the frond where the rest of it fans out. 

Again, I played around with using the dark lines in the photos and then trying the pictures without them. 

One of the things that I just LOVE about digital photography is that you can see what you took and adjust the next picture as needed.

Get creative in how you shoot things! 

And here's another example. If you look at plants, closeups are a great way to focus in on the details and find the geometric spirals, lines, or repeating patterns of nature. 

So, what is the big tip for today? Look for geometric or recurring designs in nature. They're all around us. Then, focus in of the most interesting parts. 

And of course, the right lighting can make a good picture a great picture! 

For cell phone users: You have a camera with you all the time. Pull out your phone and use it. Remember that where you touch your screen is the point your phone will read for the lighting and focus. If you look at the last two palm frond shots, you may have noticed the foreground is very blurry. That means you would want to focus on the middle of the frame to get the same effect. 

For bloggers: These pictures make me thing about recurring themes in our lives. Over time, we may see patterns emerge in our lives. I have learned that photography is a big thing for me. Even before digital, I had people tell me I had a good eye. Looking back at my print pictures, I wonder why people said I was good. :) But I went with it and found myself helping strangers by taking a picture for them (at a landmark) and then teaching them how to frame a shot. And now, here's my blog where I teach photography tips. So what recurring themes do you see in your life? It may be something to act on. 

Which of the palm frond shots do you like best and why? 
What is a recurring theme in your life? 

Hope this tip helps.

Keep on clicking!

Mary



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