Abstract
Photography Inspirations
=lewicka:iconlewicka:
reports, November 13, 2007
Article
taken from DevianArt>Art News: http://news.deviantart.com/article/37364/
You
may think that abstractions do not promise too much photo potential, but that's
where you are wrong.
Shooting
abstractions is about textures, forms, colors and their juxtapositions. Forget
about the rules you have learned before, use all your creativity and you will
be rewarded with a great abstract image. Some of my favorite photographs are
non-objective, but the fact is that, like Pablo Picasso used to say, there is
no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove
all traces of reality. But what is the recipe for an interesting abstract
picture?
Start
with abstract realism. Look for different angles and light that, when combined
together, create an image where all scale is lost. The final photograph will
not be an illusion but the subject will not be recognizable immediately either.
Do not forget to move your legs (not only your zoom), come as close to the
subject as your lenses will allow you, or go as far as you can, look up and
down all the time to find different points of view, and then...
1.
Look for reflections. Reflective surfaces are everywhere, so use the
distortions they make to capture crushed forms. Remember that the image in any
reflecting surface is as far behind its surface as the subject is in front of
it. So, if your subject is one foot from the mirror and you want to keep it and
its reflection both in focus, you'll need an aperture that will give you a
depth of field of two feet. Set multiple mirrors and play with the depth of
field; not everything has to be in focus all the time. Look for other
reflective surfaces - glass, water, shiny objects, etc. Try to find a
reflection in glass that also allows you to see through it at the same time.
You will achieve the best results when the difference in brightness between the
subject in front of the glass and the area behind is big; basically, that is
when the reflected subject falls against a darker background. You can make
distorted images in the curves of a shiny metal plate or other kitchen
equipment, so you don't even have to go out to take great abstractions.
Reflections
in still bodies of water can be nice but sometimes too realistic, so throw
something in the water (do not pollute it though) to create more cracked images
or use longer shutter speeds to capture movement of circles of ripples over the
reflection. Get some metallic paper, such as mylar and photograph not only
reflections it creates but also forms made out of it. Another idea is to circle
your subject with a tube of such material or built a tent of different pieces
of it to create more dimensional effects.
2.
Play with light. Taking abstractions with light is not only looking for unusual
natural lights and shadows, but also creating them. Set a black background and
try to filter any strong source of light through a piece of cardboard in which
you had previously cut out small holes. To get more colorful effect, try to
cover some of the holes with gelatin foils of different colors. Also, try to
filter light through prisms or deformed glass (you can find them in almost
every kitchen). All the mysterious patterns created by these pinpoints and
beams of light are results that will surprise you.
Play
with moving lights and shadows using long exposure times. Set your ISO low and
capture beams of light moving in a frame. Do not forget your tripod to get high
quality images. You can also try to zoom your lens over a steady source of
light or even move your camera during long exposure. Stroboscopic light is also
great method for creating abstract photos. And remember that Barbara Morgan
stated that light is the shape and play of a thought and reason for being a
photographer.
3.
Use intermediates. The use of an intermediate between the camera and the
subject can alter reality and create new ways of seeing. Filters, deformed
glass, liquids and see through panels can all be used. Try to capture some
plants through a prism or glass with bubbles inside. Find an object with a
color contrasting to a background and set a see-through panel in half of a
frame, which will leave half of a picture unfocused. Or finally use a back
light and try to create shadows on a half transparent material, and do not be
afraid to use wet baking paper for this purpose!
4.
Use special effect tricks. Texturize by placing your object just behind
textured glass or plastic (you can find some on a shower door sometimes). You
will get the best effects using big, well lit objects with good contrast
between themselves and their background. Use double exposure with overlapping
and non-overlapping objects and create patterns on the objects with white or
black frames and shapes in frames. How to do all of that with a digital camera?
And what about mixing medias and taking cameraless images?
Quick
tips:
#Don't
be afraid to use more time and put your camera on a tripod and play with manual
settings, and practice, practice, practice.
#Taking
abstract pictures is not hard, but taking fine art abstraction photographs
takes time and practice.
#Don't
be afraid to mix different techniques.
#Seek
inspiration from other artists, and not only photographers; after all,
abstraction started as a painting movement.
#Be
open to new ideas, experiment, most of the greatest abstractions are results of
either error or unusual ideas.
#Remember:
'Abstract'
literally means to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is
abstract... a realistic or non-objective approach makes no difference. The
result is what counts. - Richard Diebenkorn
Abstract
art isn't simply a lack of realism. It's rather a heightened depiction of what
the subject really is. - Curtis Verdun
~photograph
by DeviantArt member ÒclockworkappleÓ ~
by EgoDerelinquo
