Photography Composition

How to use repetition in photography composition

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By Jane Allan

Photography composition: repetition

Repetition in photography composition is to photography what rhythm is to a song. Repetition of an item, color or element creates a pattern, and patterns draw the eye in to a photograph.

You know when you’re standing in a bookshop, looking at a shelf of the latest releases, there are several copies of each? Sometimes, for a big release, they’ll fill an entire section of shelves with the same book so that you can’t possibly miss it.

I don’t think I’m alone with this, but as I stand in front of that section, my eye dances from one copy of the same book to the other before I finally reach out and pick one up to turn it over and read the back cover.

Why does my eye dance over repeated items?

They’re all the same, I won’t get any additional information by skipping from one identical copy to another.

It’s just what we do, we scan to gather information.

Repetition forms patterns for photography composition
A pattern was formed in the sand by the receding tide. Although the shapes aren’t all exactly the same, the repetition of similar shapes forms a pattern

If an odd book was put somewhere in that stacked bookshelf, my eye would immediately and irresistibly be drawn to it. This break in the pattern creates interest and, in a photograph, strengthens the composition.

The break gives the eye a resting place.

 

Just as when the rhythm changes in a song, when the repetition is broken in a photograph, it creates depth and interest. It makes the viewer stop and notice.

Sometimes the break in the pattern is obvious, other times not.

To make the most of this, place your focal point in the image to break the repetition. Your viewer’s eyes will go straight to it.

Repeated pattern of wood and nails leads to subject
An example of repetition in portrait photography. I placed the subject to interrupt the repeated pattern of the slats of wood and the line of nails leads to the subject (forming a leading line).

Advanced repetition technique

Once you’ve mastered repetition, you’re ready to take it to the next level with rhythm in photography composition. 

With this technique you use how the elements of repetition to add to the atmosphere of an image.

For example:

  • When you view a line of trees disappearing into the distance the repetition feels like it speeds up as the trees get smaller and appear closer together
  • If you look at a box of pencils from above the rhythm is regular and dependable, because the pencils are evenly spaced and equal in size as they’re all on the same plane
Pattern in sand of repeated shapes broken by white feather
The white feather stands out against the pattern in the golden sand, particularly as it’s positioned with the rule of thirds in mind

How to break repetition in photography composition

Don’t just break the pattern of repetition any old how. Do it strategically.

When breaking the repetition, it’s good to apply another very popular photography composition technique – the rule of thirds.

This is because layering composition techniques creates a strong and visually appealing image. So interrupt the repetition in the photo by positioning your subject at the intersection of the rule of thirds

Repetition of columns forms leading lines to the subject
I used 3 photography composition techniques here: repetition of the pillars and lights forms leading lines to the subject, who is also placed at the intersection of the imaginary rule of thirds grid

Patterns in photography are another composition technique. So simply creating a pattern of repetition, or a break in a pattern, can give you a subject to photograph in itself.

For example, one red apple in a display of green apples.

Lines of breaking waves form repetition composition broken by the subject
The repeating lines of surf form a pattern, as do the three surfers in the distance leading to the subject in the foreground. I composed the image with my subject at the intersection of the thirds grid. His placement breaks the repetition, which makes it more interesting

Everyday scenes for repetition in photography

The great thing about incorporating repetition in photography is that everywhere you look you’ll find repeating elements to use. That is once you start to look for repetition, of course. For example:

  • A line of street lights
  • Exposed bricks in a wall
  • Cars in a parking lot
  • People in a crowd
Broken repetition photography composition of locks and door hooks
A number of elements are repeated, adding to the composition, in this image: colour, details and textures. The locks and hooks on the beach hut doors form a leading line that draws our eye through the image. The hook on camera right is the only one out of alignment. This upsets the pattern in the photo, so creates visual interest. I know you’re just itching to turn it round the right way!

Photography composition ebook

How to emphasize repetition in photography

The trick with using repetition to its full potential, is to isolate the repetition in the photograph.

When you zoom in on a pattern so that it fills the frame, or at least becomes obvious in the frame, your composition will instantly become stronger. Your image will be more compelling to the viewer.

Allow me to demonstrate with this helpful herd of elephants…

A row of elephants forming a pattern in composition
Above is the uncropped photograph
An elephant breaks formation improving photo composition
When I crop the photograph, the single elephant facing forward stands out in the line of elephants facing away. It breaks the pattern and, because it’s positioned bearing the rule of thirds in mind, our eyes are drawn to it, which emphasizes the interruption in the repetition
Line of elephants forming a pattern through repetition
Here is another alternative. In this crop I have used a few composition techniques: repetition (of the back view of elephants), leading lines (the line of elephants leads to the odd one out on the end), but also the rule of odds (3 of the elephants are facing forwards – beginning, middle and end)

Here’s a fun photography exercise for the next time you feel frustrated that the weather prevents you from heading out, try some repetition photography. Gather similar objects together and photograph the repetition. Fill the frame with your subject to emphasize the repetition and see how creative you can be.

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I’d love it if you could tell us about your repetition photography experiments in the comments.

If this tutorial has helped you to understand repetition in photography composition, share that too – I love good news!

1 thought on “How to use repetition in photography composition”

  1. it was definitely an easy and interesting article. it made me understand composition and repetition in photography a lot better that just talking about it or having someone explain.
    some notes i took while reading this article:
    – just as when the rythm changes ina song, when the repetition is broken in a photograph, it creates depth and interest. it makes the viewer stop and notice. sometimes the break in the pattern is so obvious, other times not.
    – a break in a pattern creates interest and, in a photograph, strengthens the composition. the break gives the eye a resting place.

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