Tuesday Tip: Repetition in Photography

Did you know that Easter is just around the corner? I realized it when I went to Wal-Mart (yes, I HATE that store, but I just keep going back to make sure that I REALLY hate it) and saw the 'peeps' on the first isle. I do love the peeps.

OK. . . here are some non-Wal mart images to get us into the Easter spirit and also to introduce our Tuesday Tip :)



I read an interview with a photographer who specializes in travel photography, but also shoots weddings. He made a comment that went something like this, "Beginning photographers should build their style and creativity by looking at the world around them for inspiration, not 10 other photographer's blogs." Those were not his exact words, but you get my drift. It made me think. I don't have a lot of time to look at blogs right now anyway (I do have my favorites) but I could certainly start looking at the world around me more carefully.

One thing that I have noticed (and we all have), is that the world is full of repetition. And guess what? We LIKE it! When I taught young children, this fact quickly became apparent. Young children LOVE repetition, they like to have the same food, stories, and routines. They love a bag of identical buttons, magnets, or balls. They love collections of 'like objects.' They also like patterns. In my classroom every first grader given a bunch of colored M&M's (forbidden to eat them) would automatically put them into color groups, make them into pattern trains, or otherwise sort them into some type of repetitive formation.

In a lot of ways I feel that even as adults we are programmed to be drawn to patterns and repetition. A group of eggs is good example of a repeated organic shape found in nature. These egg pictures remind me of new beginnings, rebirth, and simplicity (very Easter-ly).

Besides taking pictures of repetitive objects in nature or in the world it's fun to use this concept when photographing people. Your subject will often really pop-out when placed in front of a bold geometric pattern such as a brick wall.
Stairs are a great repetitive element.


Or you can line up your people into a 'repetitive people line'

Some other places that I have found offer great repetition are: bleachers, fences, bridges, trees planted in a row, architectural elements like arches and windows, and everyday things like cars, candy, and EGGS!

I use repetition a lot. I mean a lot. It is an easy way to catch a viewers eye, and add a bit of order and purpose to your images.

P.S. These pretty (and tasty) eggs were provided courtesy of Cheryl. Who is awesome, and has her own chicken coop in her backyard. Thank you Cheryl (did I spell that right?) I really enjoyed photographing, and eating them. Is that weird that I think food is pretty enough to photograph? maybe so . . . oh well.