How to Photograph Textures

Taking photographs of textures can be a more difficult task than it seems it should be. If the lighting is not conducive or the subject is not staged correctly, the boldness of the texture can be lost in the background. Follow these steps to taking great photographs centered on the richness of texture.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get in close. To really capture the intricacies of texture, you will need to be getting your photo from as close as you can with the texture still in focus. If at all possible, use your zoom lens.

2. Turn off your flash. Textures appear best when the lighting is soft. Bright lights will drown out the color by white-washing out all of the texture.

3. Add interest to your texture. If you are taking a photo of a fabric for example that has a lot of texture, do not simply lay the fabric flat. Crumple it up or fold it over to break up any repetition and show the depth of the texture.

4. Give your subject depth. Do not be afraid to create your own textures. Again, this can be as simple as bundling up a fabric or crumpling a sheet of paper.

5. Mix different textures together. High gloss pieces stand out, especially on more matted pieces. Try layering textures on top of textures to create a specific effect.

6. Fill your frame with the texture. Do not worry about showing the texture in context. In fact, crop out any background that will take the eye from the texture and make it look flat.

7. Be creative with your subject matter. Use your sense of touch. It may seem counter-intuitive, but if the textures are notable to the touch, they most likely will be appealing to the eye also if photographed.

8. Change your angle. Do not feel the need to take your photographs straight on or from above, tilt your camera at an angle or from a different perspective to get unique shots.