Macro photography often reveals the hidden patterns in things. Nature, especially, gives up its secrets when photographed closely. If you have ever seen a photograph of a snow crystal and marvelled at its complex symmetry, or looked at the way spirals are an inherent part of the way plants grow, then you will know what I mean.
I was wont to use a macro lens a lot more than I do now but I still remember the sense of wonder when such patterns became clear. These patterns have certainly remained in my memory and so, when I am experimenting with Photoshop to create design patterns of my own, I am conscious of being influenced by them. For example, mirroring a seemingly innocuous close-up can suddenly produce an image that reflects some of those 'natural' building blocks. Moreover, when photographing architectural detail one can even begin to create fantasy buildings of one's own when juxtaposing two images or superimposing contrasting shapes on one another.
As I have written about before, digital photography has allowed design and the artistic photograph to dance very closely together. Sometimes the design element is paramount, at other times, the shapes that are created, the patterns become works of art in themselves as they appear to grow, to evolve organically across the screen.