Texture is one of photography's  Formal Elements. It's something we experience by feel and touch - but we can see it, so it can also be photographed. The best way to make Texture photographs is to get close and use sunshine. Sideways light emphasise the bumps and ridges of textured surfaces.  

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DofE Texture 

Think about the light 
 Sunshine is FANTASTIC for photographing texture. Move around the surface you are photographing and see how different it looks as the light moves on the surface. Bright low sunshine will enhance texture. ​
​Cloudy overhead conditions will flatten texture but give more detail

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How to photograph Texture 
Texture is revealed when you get close, whether rough or smooth

 Look closely at the surface of the things around you. 
If the sun shines
If you have a Dslr, choose the Flower Macro Focusing symbol on your mode dial.

Get close - but not too close
​(if the camera won't shoot you are too close)
Use sunlight and move around the subject to see where it looks best (usually shooting towards the light is best ) 
If the Flash pops up switch to P or TV  

Smartphones. the most recent smartphones have a dual lens macro facility which is brilliant.
​Tap the screen to make sure the pics are sharp. Review each picture and shoot another if it's not sharp 

THE ROUGH & THE SMOOTH 

We can see it, we can feel it and we can photograph it ! 
​Natural texture

Texture in the Manmade world
Smooth and shiny metal and plastic surfaces. Rough natural or decaying surfaces

Natural and Man-made textures together

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Because focus is so critical, shoot a few pictures in each situation and edit the best later 

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Texture is one of the 7 Formal Elements 

Artist Research 
Many photographers have explored and emphasised the texture of surfaces. 
Aaron Siskind photographed peeling paint.
Bill Mangold photographed rusty iron work.
Klaus Pichler explored decaying food
Marc Anderson investigated texture in tree bark and wood grain