Landscape Photography Photo Ideas Using Patterns

When you use patterns in photography, it creates attention and impact. Take a look at the photo ideas using patterns to illustrate this compositional technique.

Recognizing patterns is a basic photography technique to create a stronger image.

Using lines, shapes and colors in your composition adds interest. Finding patterns that repeat those elements takes the concept to the next level.

Thank you to the photographers who shared patterns photo ideas to help illustrate this concept!

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Camera Gear for Landscape Photography

• Tripod: take a look at these compact and lightweight travel tripods!
• Camera Bag: protect your camera from sand and water → We use Lowepro camera backpacks for outdoor photography.
• Neutral density filter: to compensate for variance of light you’ll need to use a neutral density filter. → Check out the Kase magnetic filters we use!
• Camera cleaning kit: remove dust or water that WILL get on your lens. NOTE: this is not for cleaning the sensor.  
• Memory cards: purchase name brand memory cards since you’re trusting your images to the card! → We use Lexar and Sandisk!
• External hard drive: copy photos to a portable external hard drive ‘just in case’. 
• Headlamp: use when taking sunrise and sunset photos!

Camera Gear at B&H Photo

Photo Examples Using Patterns

Take a look at the photo ideas using patterns shared by members of our Facebook Group, Your Photography Journey.

WATCH the video as we discuss how perspective is used in each image.

Photo Ideas Using Patterns

There are different types of patterns in photography. Patterns are elements of the scene that repeat themselves. They are usually lines, shapes, colors and textures. Using patterns is a great way to draw a viewer’s eye into your picture.

Finding different ways to use patterns may require some creativity. These photo ideas using patterns should help!

Regular and Irregular Patterns

Lissa Evans found a fence with regular, repeated patterns. She fills the frame to focus on just a part of the fence, which helps accentuate the pattern.

We love the “broken” part of the pattern she included in her composition. That small element adds interest!

Patterns can also be irregular, as you see in the photo below by Denise Thomason. The curved lines are repeated elements in the scene, but they aren’t aligned in a regular way.

The contrast of light and shadow brings out the patterns and textures here as well. Denise also chose to fill the frame to highlight this part of the landscape.

Line, Shape and Color Patterns

James Carro found a location with all types of patterns! The most noticeable are the lines and shapes in this scene.

He uses perspective to get down low so the foreground patterns are emphasized. And the diminishing perspective adds depth so there’s a foreground, midground and background in the photo.

The photo below by Alfredo Cruz has lines, shapes AND color patterns.

He also fills the frame of just a part of the building. Getting close on a part of the whole brings attention to the patterns. We love the perspective looking up as well as vertical orientation of this image!

Manmade and Natural Patterns

Manmade patterns are everywhere! Look at this awesome location found by William Holmes to photograph!

There are repeating lines and shapes that are part of the diminishing perspective. The added pops of color and the contrast between light and dark are other elements that provide interest to the viewer.

As you start to notice patterns, you’ll be amazed at the patterns created by nature! This photo by Roy Goldsberry showcases a natural pattern.

The techniques Roy used to take this photo bring that added wow factor to the viewer. He utilized a low perspective so the foreground pattern was the main focus of the image.

And finding the best time of day to take the photo makes a difference with the foreground in shade and the background with golden light.

Creative Patterns

Richey Oliver takes photographing patterns to the next level in the photo below!

He found a patterned subject to be the background then placed lens balls on top. The effect is awesome! Notice that he purposely placed each lens ball so the reflected portion in the ball was a specific part of the pattern.

And we love the creative approach to Hoyt Mann finding a pattern in his daughter’s hair.

We love the way he captured this photo to highlight the curl patterns in the hair. The black and white image also accentuates the contrast of the dark and light streaks in the curls.

AMAZON Landscape Photography Books: