Patterns in nature have always caught my eye. That is probably no surprise, I think they attract many photographers because they offer a sense of harmony, a sense of connection. They don’t have to be big, and don’t have to be small – just simply be there in front of me. . . Usually that can be asking for a lot, since most of what we view in the natural world can be somewhat chaotic.
This image of beach rocks is one I have been wanting to make for awhile. I find the unique character of each stone interesting Out of camera, the image wasn’t quite complete – it didn’t provide exactly what I was looking for. Since the rocks were closely uniform in color and tone, I had to try to process it in a way to bring out the uniqueness of each rock They needed to provide the overall appearance of a pattern, yet still hold individuality. . . Layer after layer it finally started taking on the look I wanted. . With post-processing, patterns can take on limitless versions from the same base image.
Patterns on a grander scale require the photographer to remove them from their environment through composition and lens choice In contrast to the above beach rocks, this segment of a rock wall is probably 10 feet high It is a real exercise in seeing, because it is not always so easy to pick them out. . I have noticed that patterns that are too uniform with little to break them up can be a bit static . Just being a pattern may be initially interesting, but can quickly become boring visually if there isn’t something to hold interest. It has happened to me many times. I get excited in the field in finding some unique pattern, and photograph it. Later on in review is when I say to myself – “Boy, that kinda looks like crap.”. 
. It is something that I now try to be wary of when composing – look for the pattern, but then try to frame in some type of focal point or interruption to repetition. It helps your eye from wandering aimlessly around the frame and creates a bit more interest.
. Sometimes feedback helps us collect our own thoughts about a new direction when we may be unsure about it. . . HDR is one of those things where I think people are still testing the waters on how they feel and react to it – myself included. . The bluebird image I placed in the previous post, well, I think most people would think that is just plain weird.
