Patterns

Unique and interesting patterns make strong images.  When I plan a photo tour, opportunities to capture these kinds of images often help me plan an itinerary.  This could be rice terraces, architectural designs, or floral designs.  In this case, I photographed the Maras Salt Mine in the Peruvian Highlands from an adjacent hill to capture the pattern of the myriad pools of salt water.  With all pattern shots, you need to have complete depth of field so the entire image is sharp from edge to edge.  Depth of field becomes critical when you photograph a pattern closeup, but in a situation like this in which I was at least a quarter mile from the mine, I would have had depth of field at any lens aperture, even if I were shooting wide open.