Abstract photography commonly involves capturing parts of a total image. In this way, much of the actual object are eliminated. The art form requires the eye to notice the colors, lines, patterns, shapes or textures of the subject. Abstract images might:
• Isolate a particular feature while eliminating the total image
• Decrease or increase the distance from the image
• Create the appearance of motion
• Accentuate patterns
• Change the color and tone of a subject
Becoming an Abstract Photographer
If considering a career in photography, capturing abstract images is the ideal means of breaking into the business. The artform provides the photographer with endless possibilities and total freedom to create unique images. There are certain elements that abstract photographs should contain.
• Composition-Creating a visual masterpiece requires that the image display a balance between colors, patterns, shapes and textures.
• Harmony-The various elements of the image should be visually balanced and proportional.
• Lighting-Backlighting, shadows and silhouettes are some examples of how lighting dramatizes, emphasizes or showcases certain details or forms of the subject.
• Mystery-Photographs having a bit of mystery tend to spark emotions or stimulate the imagination.
• Simplicity-By eliminating certain elements of an object, the remaining image becomes visually unencumbered and more appealing.
• Viewing Angle-Depending on the object to be photographed, the photographer might use a close-up, an overhead view, flip or rotate the image to create a new perspective.
Tips and Tricks
Potential subjects to shoot using abstract techniques are all around us. Choose an item. Look at it from all angles and think about how you might catch a region of the item to magnify a specific feature. Look for lines, patterns or textures that are unique or interesting. Maybe look at the subject through the camera lens. Zoom in. What do you see?
Experiment with lighting. Light the object from different angles. Determine if creating the image in color or grayscale is more visually appealing. Play with motion by moving the camera at the moment you click the shutter. Move from right to left or in a circular motion. The shutter speed needs to be set at 1/10th of a second to achieve an abstract blur.
After shooting the images, use editing tools to distort the object further. Post-processing is a great way to add more abstract details. Try cropping, flipping or altering the colors.