On Assignment — Capturing Color and Texture

I enjoy making up photo assignments for myself to sharpen my  skills and improve my photography.

​One of my favorite assignments is to capture textures in nature (or wherever I am). Often these make for great abstract designs for other projects.

Reflections in water are a perfect place to start. You can capture both color and texture. The photos of puddles in the sand are catching the color of the sky and nearby cliffs. The sand has a great texture and when wet shows deeper color.

While these are taken in the same place they feel different. The texture and depth of color really changes the mood of each shot. I find them both interesting, but one feels cheerier to me.

The clouds are fun because it isn’t obvious right away that they are a reflection. Every time I see this shot I want to turn it over – and then it  really looks wrong. The texture of the breeze on the water looks like this was shot through a bathroom glass door.

The next two shots are also in water but this time it is running water shot with time lapse so you can see the motion. I love the color reflections of the canyon on the water. The ripples  mix up the orange canyon wall and the blue sky. It takes a few takes to figure out the best exposure and time for these, but they are worth the effort.

Lichen or moss on stone offers some great colors and textures. The colors are usually more subtle, but as you can see here, sometimes you find some great color.

You can also find great textures and colors in an urban environment. I love this rusted metal panel. The orange is so vivid and the pattern of the rust is visually interesting. Old peeling paint also makes for great texture and patterns.

Make your own footprints…

Experiment to create your own abstracts

It can be fun and rewarding to play with your camera, and it will make you more creative.

I get great enjoyment out of finding unusual shots, angles and texture and making abstracts out of them. You can find these things everywhere you go. Try getting closer and down lower to see things differently. You might find yourself making some cool art while you’re at it.

Enjoy the journey!
Karin