Essentials Of Texture Photography
The purpose of any image is to draw the interest of the viewers. Of course, there are many ways to accomplish this. The utilization of saturated colors works well for this purpose. Leading curves can also be used. While these methods are very powerful, there is one method that many photographers overlook. That method is the utilization of texture.
The definition of texture photography is rather simple. For the purposes of this article, texture photography is any imagery that relies, at least partly, for its impact on the texture of the objects in the image.
Texture will be defined as the surface detail of an object. This detail can be composed of surface irregularities (such as the wood grain of an old plank) or of small forms on a surface (such as a mass of roots from an ancient tree).
Types of Texture Photography
While there are many forms of texture photography, this article will concentrate on three types. The three types of texture photography to be discussed are detail, drama, and information.
Detail: With detail texture photography, the detail of an object\’s surface is the most important element of an image. The rest of the object plays a secondary role. In order to make use of this technique, the camera can be moved in for a close-up of the detail, or a portion of an image can be photographed (the portion with the best texture). The texture pattern observed in an old stone structure is an example of a subject that would work nicely for this type of texture photo.
Side light often works very nicely with detail texture images as it enhances the detail.
Drama: With this second approach to texture photography, the texture is used to add drama to an image. In this type photography, texture actually takes on a supporting, rather than the main, role in an image. Rather, it is one component of the image that serves to spice up the image.
A key point is that, generally, the contrast or color of the texture serves to seize the viewer\’s interest. So, it is essential to pick a subject that has good color or contrast.
An example of texture employed for drama would be the patterns of layered rock in the Grand Canyon glowing in the late afternoon sunlight.
The best light for bringing out the drama in texture is often side light.
Information: The last form of texture photography to be dealt with in this write-up uses texture to communicate information. In an information texture image, the texture tells part of the tale of the image by communicating something about the image. As an example, an image of a rusting, decades old car rusting in the desert sun subtly alludes to the historical past of which the car was part.
When creating information texture images, it is crucial to compose the image so that the texture can correctly communicate the story of the image. This will help to create a stronger image.
One other significant point is to make sure that the texture has a subservient role in this kind of image. In other words, the texture should help to enhance the center of interest not overwhelm the center of interest.
Summation
This short write-up could offer only a limited amount of material about texture photography. A great deal more can be learned about texture photography.
To discover more about the subject of texture photography, click Making Texture Photography.
