For my passion project, I was not sure at first what I wanted to do because I never had really thought a lot about photography. But then I started to remember how I like taking close up or zoomed in pictures of different textures and patterns of places I visit. I enjoy taking the pictures themselves and then later on I can go back and remember “Oh yeah, that place had that interesting roof and this place had those cool modern art sculptures,” - that kind of thing. 

A pyramid of cubes at the sculpture park of the National Museum of Modern Art in Washington, D.C.

Tiled floor in the Capitol Building, Washington, D.C. 

Ceiling in the Capitol Building, Washington, D.C. 

The little details and interesting patterns that often go unnoticed interest me. It’s also almost like a kind of a game or a memory test. I can look at old photos and try to puzzle out where I was when the photo was taken. That also brings back memories of what I was thinking at the time and why that particular thing caught my eye.

Grate in the floor of the Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.

Antique typewriter keys

Starry (pillowed) skies!

This kind of picture can be taken anywhere and I like that it can be surprising how many little details can be found in ordinary places and you’re never quite sure how the photo will come out.  I don’t know if these pictures would interest somebody who hadn’t been to the specific places where the photos were taken, but since this is a passion project and I’m just supposed to do this for myself, I decided to give it a try. Here are some up close photos with textures and patterns that I took in Washington, D.C. and around my house.

Antique radio face

In late spring, summer flowers are beginning to bloom everywhere - even on the cozy, music-room blanket

Kathryn Blanco is a member of the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program

All photos courtesy and copyright Kathryn Blanco