Plant Patterns: Tips on capturing details for excellent storytelling

Text and photos by Heather Cline 

Aspen trunks on a snowy day

Plant life is naturally photogenic and less intimidating than other types of nature photography like wildlife and landscapes. This is primarily because plants allow for more time to account for the critical aspects of a good image like exposure, focus, and composition. However, capturing fauna in a creative way can be challenging. One way to improve results is to focus on patterns. This post offers a simple approach for capturing patterns in plant life to create compelling images.

Uniform Patterns

• What is it: Predictable repeating patterns. 
• Why we like them: these provide a sense of stability, predictability and comfort. 
• Examples: succulents, leaf veining, flower petals/pistils, pinecones, tree trunks, sea kelp, cactus spines, dandelion 'puffball', palm frond

Leaf veining

Organic patterns

• What is it: Irregular but contain a sense of rhythm or continuity. 
• Why we like them: these represent different things such as freedom, lightness, play and ease
• Examples: tree bark, tree branches, forest canopy, curling fern fronds, mushroom gills

Cholla cacti forest

Tips for photographing

• Look for lines, curves and spirals
• Apply 'the rule of thirds'. Imagine the image is overlaid with a Tic-Tac-Toe grid then place a dominant part of the subject onto or near one of the intersecting lines. 
• Change up the depth of field by altering your aperture settings. 
• Change your point of view: from ground level or from above.
• Zoom in; Fill the frame.
• Use wide angle to include lines and patterns in larger scenes. 
• Leverage the time of day to bring out different types of light and shadow.
• Incorporate color (complimentary, analogous, monochromatic, etc.)
• Pay attention to the background. That which does not improve the image, makes it worse. 
• Try intentional camera movement to create abstract patterns 

Chrysanthemum

Helpful tools and gear 

• Reflector for bouncing light into shadows 
• A flash for adding light in shadows
• A tripod for low angle shots and/or long exposures
• Knee pads or something to kneel on for those low angle shots
• Adjustable arm and clamp for stabilizing plants in a breeze or holding reflectors. 

Pattern created by two different types of wildflowers in a meadow

Focusing on patterns is a fantastic way to elevate plant photography. Nature is full of intricate designs that can easily go unnoticed, but once you zoom in on repeating shapes, textures, or lines, you can create visually striking images. For example, the veins in leaves, the spirals of a fern, or the symmetry of a flower’s petals can make for amazing focal points.

Have you tried experimenting with pattern-focused photography? It’s a great way to add a new layer of storytelling to the way plants are portrayed!