Daisy’s fur
Chapter 9 of The Practice of Contemplative Photography,(paid link), by Andy Karr and Michael Wood, explores texture.
Unlike color, which can be dramatic and stop you in your tracks, texture tends to be more subtle, and less likely to have hidden meaning for you. It is harder to see, but when you set an intention to spot texture, you will find that it is everywhere. Working with a 2D medium such as photography, texture and pattern can often be confused. So, here is what the authors have to say about them.
Texture has a tactile quality, whether rough or smooth. Examples include a brick wall, grass, a car’s chrome, or skin. I am always drawn by the texture of my dog’s fur, as seen above. Seeing texture requires slowing down, and really noticing. When you are stopped by texture, stay with it and determine what it was that stopped you. Feel the texture, literally and figuratively. One exercise the authors suggest (which you need to be careful with), is to close your eyes and use your hands to feel around you. When you come upon something with texture, whether rough or smooth, open your eyes and look at what you felt.
Pattern is different altogether. Pattern has more to do with design. It can be tactile also, but you need to distinguish whether it is the design that stopped you or the texture. I have a blanket with a colorful zigzag design on it. Although it has texture, I found that I was drawn to the design before the texture. Make sure you distinguish between the two.