Patterns and Repetition - They Aren't The Same At All

these are patterns. A repeated figure in a regular arrangement

Hello everyone. We see confusion from time to time in photography between work to achieve the capture of patterns and to achieve the capture of repetition. At a high level, they may look similar but they are very different and are two different, albeit both completely viable photographic approaches.

Patterns

while this image looks more complex, it is the same element set over and over, forming a pattern

A pattern is relatively easy to discern. It involves elements that repeat themselves in a regular mathematical interval. Think of a paisley shirt or some of that wallpaper from the early nineteen seventies. A pattern could also be seen in the consistency in size and spacing of windows in a building.

Patterns create a sense of peace in the viewer, because they are effectively just the same thing over and over. There is no change, no disruption and thus no conflict. Patterns existed in garments to be pleasing but also to create that subliminal sense of stability.

this image shows how japanese traditional weaving uses patterns to create senses of peace and balance

Repetitions

repetition uses repeated elements in some level of disorder or discontinuity. It is more chaotic and dynamic

Repetition involves the same or very similar elements, just like a pattern but there is discontinuity and disruption in an image full of repetition. Consider perhaps an image of a pile of chairs in a backroom that are not evenly stacked together. The elements are all chairs, but the arrangement is chaotic. Another example might be looking down into a barrel of apples. Yes they are all apples, but they will be different sizes and the layout will be irregular. This will be incorrectly thought to be pattern, but its natural irregularity makes it repetition.

foods are good subjects for repetition as they are similar, but not identical and when together do not form natural patterns

Another example of repetition would be a number of bicyclists in the same image. The bicycle is the repeated entity but there is no pattern or required consistency of the bikes or their riders

repetition not pattern

Wrapping Up

We understand that pattern and repetition have some similarities but are not the same thing as all. To build your observation skills, when out making images, consider seeking out patterns and repetitions and see how you can use them to fulfill your story.

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