One Screen School House – Texture

by | Oct 8, 2012 | Stories

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This week we are continuing on through the elements of design. Today’s focus is on texture. Texture is defined by the smoothness or roughness of an subject. Many times we don’t take into account the texture of our subject but it can create another facet to our composition. Everything has a texture and by playing to the natural texture you can deepen the visual experience of your audience. Lighting plays a role in capturing the texture. Side light or low light will bring out the texture while full hard light will wash it out usually. There are a few distinctions within texture shots- detail, informative, and drama shots.

You can focus solely on the texture using your whole frame. This is, obviously, a detail shot. We often seen this in macro photography. The up close nature of a macro allows the texture take on a life of it’s own.

Another way is to use texture to further cement the idea you are trying to communicate. In this type of shot the texture is informative. The slick leather of a new car or the dust on a window sill in an old building. Each denotes visual clues for the viewer to further read into your image. The accumulated debris on the window sill deepens the feeling of abandoned.

The third use of texture is for drama. The sharp slope of a shingled roof glinting in the sun or the soft waves of a sea of lavender. In this type of shot we are using texture to add to the drama of the shot. The texture in the shot below lends itself  to the softness of the blooms of lavendar.

Photo by Nei Cruz @n_cruz

When shooting, pay attention to what your subject has to offer. Play up the natural texture to suit what you are trying to communicate to your viewer. We will chat further about texture in the next school house covering contrast, curves, and pattern in relation to texture photography. I do hope you will stop by again and learn with us.

 Class dismissed!

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Anna Cox
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