This week, we continue with the Minimalism theme, by looking for subjects that have repeating patterns. The goal this week is to find a subject that not only has an interesting (and hopefully visually pleasing) pattern, but also tries to keep the photo as simple and clean as possible, excluding anything else that might be distracting. In other words, your photo should ideally focus primarily on the pattern, and exclude anything else.
Let’s start with an example:
Puente de los Tirantes – Diego Charlón Sánchez
I love this image: The support cables of the bridge make a great, repeating pattern, yet there is plenty of negative space to give a very minimalist look. Note how there is almost nothing else in the image to distract you from the patterns made by the cables.
Minimalist patterns can be found all around us. Minimalist patterns can be found in Architecture:
Head Over to Denver – Thomas Hawk
In this image, an almost endless sea of windows makes for a wonderful repeating pattern. Because the windows fill the entire frame, there is nothing else in the image, aside from the pattern. (I.e., no other distracting elements.) As well, the high-key exposure also adds to the minimalist feel.
Minimalist patterns can also be found in Landscapes:
What could be more visually simple than a large expanse of sand? That certainly gives the image a clean, minimal look. As well, the ridges in the sand give a great pattern and texture to the image.
Minimalist patterns can also be found in Nature:
The spiderweb and the water droplets both form beautiful, repeating patterns. (I love how the droplets look on the delicate web.) As well, keeping with the minimalist theme, there is nothing else in the image to distract you from the beautiful, natural patterns.
Minimalist patterns can also be found in Everyday Objects:
Vertical Blinds – Craig Sunter
This is one of my favorite examples: The vertical blinds form a wonderful repeating pattern, transitioning from dark to light, and back again. As well, the image is undeniably minimalist — there’s nothing else in the photo but these smooth transitions of light.
This week, your goal is to find and photograph a subject that has an interesting, repeating pattern, and also has a clean, simple, minimalist look. I suggest that you use the previous techniques of “Filling the Frame” or “Get Close” (Week 33) to help focus on just the pattern itself, leaving out any other distracting elements. The choice of subjects is up to you — Architecture, Nature, Macro, Everyday Items, etc. As always, I encourage creativity, or any out of the box ideas you may have. Get your camera, be creative, and enjoy!
The rules are pretty simple:
- Post one original photograph (Your Image) shot each week per theme posted on this blog to Google+, Facebook, or Flickr (or all three). Tag the photo #photochallenge and #photochallenge2017
- The shot should be a new shot you took for the current weekly theme, not something from your back catalog or someone else’s image.
- Don’t leave home without your camera. Participating in the 2017 PhotoChallenge is fun and easy.
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