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26 | OHCC LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2020 | During this period of social isolation, you are probably spending more time in your gardens or other natural outdoor spaces. Patterns in nature provide photographers with plenty of opportunities to create dramatic images. Many flowers, for example, display radial patterns when shot from above: think gazanias, daisies, blanket flowers, and marigolds. Concentric rings of contrasting colors radiate out from tightly knit centers of stamens. The veins in leaves usually display repeating patterns, most impactful if they are in a contrasting color or tone to the leaf itself. Some large leaves consist of multiple leaflets or spears in neat rows on either side of a central vein. Palm trees are good examples, as are many other tropical plants. A visit to the San Diego Botanical Garden yields an excellent choice of such subjects. Some species, such as orchids, have several blooms on each side of one stalk. Consider also Hollyhocks, Canterbury Bells, and on the wildflower side, Fiddlenecks. Caterpillars, too, can have repeating patterns all along their bodies. Monarch caterpillars are particularly splendid with their alternate stripes of yellow and black. Speaking of butterflies, they make strong use of symmetry, as the pattern on the wings on one side of the body are identical to that on the wings on the other side but reversed. Within each wing there may be circles and lines repeating. Is anything in nature square? Hardly ever! Circles, ovals, plenty of curves – yes. Natural shapes are most often rounded or curvilinear. The spherical blooms of Alium, Penta, and Hydrangea are made up of dozens of florets to create a three-dimensional shape. Photography Just in case: Check with your club contact to confirm meeting place, date, and time.