04 - Rhythm and repetition
the silent music
Our minds seek order. We find order comforting and enjoyable. This is why we enjoy music.
Music is a series of basic sounds arranged into a predictable repeating pattern and we call this pattern "rhythm". Our mind's ear enjoys music with rhythm because it has order.
Our mind's eye also has a preference for order over chaos. We find repeating patterns more enjoyable to view compared to chaos.
In some ways composing a photo is similar to composing a piece of music. The photographer takes basic elements, repeats them in a predictable pattern and adds them into the frame of their photo.
For this week's assignment: compose a photo with the focus on a basic element that repeats. Look for repeating lines or shapes, or both. Repeating patterns can be both linear and circular.
Before you shoot:
Our preference for order is why you may often see fences used as an element in photos, particularly in landscape and portrait photography. Fences are orderly and predictable and can bring rhythm to a composition that would otherwise be chaotic.
