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Repetition and Rhythm in Your Photos

Usually, subjects are preferred to be in contrast with the background. This allows the subject to have well defined edges that make it stand out from the rest of the picture. But not all photos have to be the same. Sometimes it is good to have all the elements inside a composition in rhythm with each others. Using this technique will make the observer travel through the whole photo very smoothly.

Think of poetry or songs and the role rhymes play in both of them. Patterns must exist inside the photograph to allow smooth transitions between the objects . These patterns can be due to repetition in shapes,  colors, or even positions of objects. This adds interest all around your photo making the observer look at it over and over.

Patterns can be found in many things and they can be created out of anything. Rows of street light posts, trees in forests, leaves on trees, the possibilities are quite endless. A lot more patterns can be created out of similarities in colors, shapes, or even arrangement of any kind of objects. At closer range, many new patterns will appear. Indeed in the macro photography world, new patterns will emerge, such as in the textures of fabrics and skin.

While patterns are good compositional tools, they don't always seem as good in simple compositions. So, breaking a pattern is sometimes desired too. Photos with missing elements inside a repetition are usually very interesting, as they will leave the observer thinking. Also, repetitions can be used as a distinctive tool between the background forming the pattern and the foreground containing the subject. As a result, the point of interest will be on the subject.

Colors are also used for creating a sort of rhythm in photographs. Strong contrasts are substituted by different shades of a dominant color, or by the employment of different colors in harmony with each others.All this grabs the different elements of the whole photo together.

Another type of pattern is that due to objects' positions or arrangement. For instance, the position of an object can relate to the subject of the image, or that different objects may be arranged in a way that they form a pattern. These two techniques can be employed in many different ways, with different objects, and in different scenes.

Creating rhythmic photos is not an easy job, because it requires a totally new approach to photography that most people are not used to. However, one thing is for sure that after understanding the process, you will begin to find more patterns around you.

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