Creating Abstract Photography

What is abstract photography?

For me, it's taking something known and easily recognizable 

and presenting it in a different way.

It can be done by zooming in on details with a macro lens and creating

unusual and sometimes even surreal images.

The rational mind will struggle to analyse and try to label what it sees.

Yet if we allow ourselves to follow the lines and the shapes and colours

we can just enjoy a slightly surrealist landscape that cannot be quite understood.

Isn't it fun to just let go and flow into this new way of seeing

through the fringes of this curtain-like structure

which isn't actually a curtain?

Or wouldn't you like to slide and play along these tunnels of light

created through a mingling of sunlight and shadow?

Or what about bending down to touch these bronze sculptures

that remind you of something but they're totally the wrong colour.

Macro photography allows us to concentrate on a single detail

and give it an abstract quality.

Blue Gingham seen through different eyes!

Enjoy the texture and 3-dimensional surface and how the edges catch the light.

It doesn't matter that we don't know what it is.

In fact, not knowing heightens our perception and makes us just take pleasure

in what we see.

Look at the patterns and texture and colours

Shiny surfaces create art all on there own - reflecting what is around them

Water also presents us with wonderful reflections and movement

and offers us its own special abstract quality

Panning or intentional camera movement is another way of creating abstracts.

I really enjoy these!

For that, I need to use a slower shutter speed and move my camera

as I press the button.

To end my selection, I offer this night shot.

This was created by panning and capturing these flying luminous objects

all heading, with seeming purpose, to an important destination!

So, to create abstracts in photography

I can zoom in on details

Show only the part of a whole subject

create an unusual look by transforming something through a change in colour.

 I can play with my shutter speed and take my subjects from different angles.

All these things allow me to play freely

and disregard any rules that I have learned over time.

Abstracts set me free from convention

and allow me to skip and jump and shake it all up

most deliciously!

Abstract photography allows my inner, playful child to have fun

because it lets me re-invent what I see and feel!

This blog posting has been inspired by a workshop I'm doing

with Kim Manley Ort

called

Going Abstract