Repetition
Details
Repetition is everywhere in the city — in motion, in habit, in design. It's the same shape, gesture, or element echoed again and again. Sometimes it’s choreographed — uniforms, queues, synchronized movement. Sometimes it’s accidental — a row of crates, a sea of matching umbrellas, three people checking their phones in the same posture.
Repetition brings structure to an image, but it also brings energy. And often, it's the one thing that breaks the repetition that makes the shot work — the one person out of line, the one object that doesn’t belong.
Patterns are an inevitable part of repetition. Repetition creates patterns, so at some juncture, you might find yourself thinking in terms of pattern—and thats okay, but this isn’t really about finding patterns — it’s about repetition on the street. Try to think more people and objects rather than architectural facades.
### What to look for:
- People walking in sync, standing in formation, or mirroring gestures
- Matching outfits — uniforms, coordinated couples, or strangers dressed alike
- Rows of identical objects — bins, crates, chairs, signs, wheels, bikes
- Repeated signage — fonts, symbols, stickers
- Traffic or pedestrian flow — feet, wheels, umbrellas
- Accidental rhythm — three people on their phones, same haircut, same shoes
### Tips:
- Zoom in on the rhythm — isolate the repetition inside the frame
- Wait for the right moment — repetition in people often lasts just a beat
- Look for the break — the one thing that stands out in the pattern
- Work with time — repetition is often about timing, not just space
### Bonus Challenge:
Photograph a sequence of three or more repeated elements in motion — footsteps, gestures, or actions — and see if you can catch the rhythm in a single frame.
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### Meet 2:30:
Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Exit C2, street level, 2:30PM sharp.
From there, explore the surrounding streets — all rich in crowds, symmetry, and urban rhythm. There’s the Prominade to the south, Nathan Road action, smaller streets in between, Kowloon Park, and Canton Road.
### Regroup between 4:15-4:30:
Delaney’s Irish Pub, basement of Mary Building, 71–77 Peking Road, TST. Get here between 4:15-4:30PM. Please stay a while to share your experience, thoughts, and maybe some images while grabbing a drink (or more).
After all this:
Please post 5 of your best images from the shoot that fit today’s project. And PLEASE, be a participant in commenting on other images. Content reactions (oh what a cute dog) and general comments (apples look tasty) are always welcome, but respectful and constructive critiques on composition or technique are even better. It's part of the process and valuable for your fellow photographers.
