Texture

What Does Texture Mean When Talking About Photography?

When talking about photography texture refers to the visual quality of the surface of an object, revealed through variances in shape, tone and color depth. Texture brings life and vibrance to images that would otherwise appear flat and uninspiring. Capturing high levels of detail is extremely important when attempting to capture lifelike textures making exposure choices critical. Underexpose and texture will be lost in shadow and blurring, overexpose and it will be lost in blown highlights and lack of dynamic range. The texture of an object, as seen through the lens of a camera can be heavily manipulated by the use of supplemental lighting; Changes in directional lighting alone can dramatically effect the visibility and depth of texture within an image.

Photo: Dan Carr