Background Patterns ~ Lily Between Leaves

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Month by month Jude at Travel Words is challenging us to join her in a mission to improve her and our photography. February’s topic has been about ‘patterns’, and the final assignment (I’m on the last lap here) has been to use pattern as a background for a more substantial subject. She says it isn’t easy, and she’s right! Anyway, here’s my best shot at it, though I’m thinking my background is too much in my foreground. Further pondering required.

Background Patterns

50 thoughts on “Background Patterns ~ Lily Between Leaves”

  1. Mmm… you could well be right, but it is a lovely photograph and perfect for the ‘break the pattern’ task! Start looking for textures now Tish! And I hope you are still dry!

    Reply

      1. Well that’s good news. We are still experiencing strong winds and wintry showers! But only 21 days to the spring equinox – yay!

      2. And no sooner had I responded to you, than we had blooming great squall. That wasn’t on the forecast. Sun back now so must dash to allotment for some salad stuff.

      1. Thanks Tish. It’s coming up to that time of year when I get a mad urge to knit. No matter how many years I do this, my enthusiasm always exceeds my skill level.

  9. I don’t think it’s possible to delineate between fore and background here. They blend into each other and are quite strong elements, but they don’t overshadow the flower. I think it’s brilliant! 😀

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  11. I like this photo, Tish. But your thought about the vibrance of the background may be right.

    Perhaps that is because this is a photo of organic substance only. I have a notion that we – perhaps all of us animals, birds, reptiles, etc. – cannot look at a scene which is made up of entirely organic material and de-emphasize one part of what we are seeing for the benefit of another part. I have this idea that to do this would have put our lives in danger when we were still brachiating in the forests and loping through the great savannahs of East Africa.

    That is perhaps why it is difficult and why you have to revert to trickery of some kind. Perhaps that is why also perspective was invented? And why, in the so-called ‘folk art’, the whole canvas is usually covered with few breaks.

    But I don’t know really. And this flower is a lovely harbinger of Spring. Sarah

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    1. Thank for all those thoughts, Sarah. I think you may well be right about how we view our natural environment. You’ve reminded me when I was doing my masters on the Mbuti pygmies of the Congo, I read they were very confused when driven out into open country. They had no sense of perspective, but interpreted all in one plane, exclaiming at the miniature antelopes they saw on the plains. And then further being confused as the grew in size as their vehicle approached them. So yes a facility we need to develop.

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    1. No, there weren’t any limitations. And after what you’ve said, I can see it would have been much easier using human-made/designed contexts, along with some careful use of perspective. I just couldn’t find a good example. And then I thought the lily pic, if not quite right, was useful for thinking about the problem. And so it has proved with the arrival of your comments! 🙂

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      1. Yes, you may be right: a human-design context may have suited you better. I suppose even that Matisse was good at this with all those patterned wallpapers and people and things posed in front of them. William Morris and company also?

        I was also thinking, though, that I have seen kurume azaleas which have self-hybridized and their bushes are of two colours. Sometimes one flower is of two colours. I was thinking that they would have suited this theme because they really stood out against a background of their leaves – like yours here. In fact, perhaps this standing out is especially attractive to their pollinators. But……..I am really getting off the rails here.

        Such interesting challenges you participate in, Tish!
        Sarah

      2. I must go and take a look at kurume azaleas, though I do not live in azalea soil country here. And as to interesting challenges – it’s fascinating how many ways I can find not to be doing what I really want to do!!!

      3. Btw. I don’t seem to be able to comment on your blog. Was going to say I remember the huge burst of excitment when I first learned about trophic cascades. Just shows what may be done with wolves and the imagination to do it.

    1. Thanks, Sue. I’m thinking that sometimes starting with not-quite-the-right-thing helps see where you should be going with something. Happy week to you.

      Reply

      1. What fantabulous kurumes, Sarah. And not only the colours but the textures of the petals. And altogether makes the colour receptors in one’s brain go PING! As to WP – it is a very slippery entity. Good luck with sorting the problem.

  14. Love your capture, Tish – it has such a dreamy quality; I had to take a second look to see if it was a painting.

    I appreciate that more we work at our art, the more challenging it becomes. Our attempts are no longer delightful chance happenings but a product of our efforts and imaginations. Wishing you lots of happy opportunities to flex your new muscles!

    Reply

    1. I do appreciate your most encouraging comment, Ju-Lyn. I feel you’ve waved me off to make the most of things. An excellent start to the week. Thank you.

      Reply

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