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Texture adds a strong sense of realism to the photograph because it
appeals directly to our sense of touch. It tells us about the nature of a
subject, whether it be the smooth surface of old paint interrupted by
course cracks, or the fine bark of an old tree.

The same light that reveals the form of an object also conveys its
texture, giving us a sense of its three-dimensionality. In imparting this
impression of substance, texture helps us sense an objects weight

and bulk, as well as its softness or hardness. And on a purely two-
dimensional level, texture makes a photograph visually more active,

stimulating the viewers eye.

Strong light raking obliquely across an object accentuates its surface
characteristics in sharper detail than any other source of illumination,
and it is especially effective in black-and-white shots because they
depend entirely on tonal changes to suggest texture and form. In
colour photographs, subtle shadings of surface hue are often more
effectively portrayed by soft, even lighting.