How You Can Take Outstanding Texture Photography Photographs

July 10, 2010

The point of any image is to gain the interest of the viewers. Several approaches can be used to achieve this end. Eye-catching color is often utilized for this purpose. Another method that is very popular is the use of leading curves. Other images rely on breathtaking vistas. However, an often overlooked method of capturing the viewers’ interest is the use of texture. Thus, the purpose of this article is to cover the fundamentals of texture photography.

Let’s start off with a definition of texture photography. For this article, texture photography is defined as any photography which uses texture to add impact to images.

Types of Texture Photography

There are three primary types of texture photography that will be covered in this write-up: detail, drama, and information.

Detail: With this type of texture photography, the detail in the surface of the object being photographed is the most significant aspect of an image. The actual object is of lower significance. In order to make use of this technique, the camera can be moved in for a close-up of the detail, or a section of an image can be photographed (the portion with the best texture). The texture pattern observed in an old stone structure is an instance of a subject that would work well for this type of texture photo.

Side light typically works very nicely with detail texture images as it enhances the detail.

Drama: With drama texture photography, the texture helps to bring out the drama in an image. In this type photography, texture actually takes on a supporting, rather than the main, role in an image. Rather, texture is just one aspect of an image that helps to improve the image.

A good illustration of this form of imagery is the shots of massive canyons that have several layers of varied colored rock.

An essential point is that side light works well with these images.

Information: The last form of texture photography to be dealt with in this article uses texture to communicate information. In this type of photography, the texture communicates information about an object that improves the impact of the image. For example, the old, weathered wood in a ghost town building clearly communicates the age and history of the dated structure.

For information texture images, it is crucial to recognize precisely what information the texture is to communicate and compose the image in such a manner that the texture brings out the right message. This will help to create a stronger photo.

Summary

The subject of texture photography is much broader than what this short write-up could cover. A lot more can be learned about texture photography.

To learn how to employ the techniques of texture photography, click Shooting Texture Photography.