Abstract

A portion of the floor in the cathedral at Chartres. A thousand years of communicants have walked across, stood, sat, knelt, prayed and slept on these stones.

Sony A7M II Sony 24 - 240

Click image for larger version  Name:	Chartres Floor (1).jpg Views:	0 Size:	310.8 KB ID:	4761759
 
After looking at the pictures in this thread I'm not sure I really know what an abstract photograph is.

One of many definitions: "abstract pictures" relating to or denoting art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but rather seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, colours, and textures.

I still don't know but I want to participate:
Lady With Hat​

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Sigma Sd Quattro H
85mm f1.4 lens
Yokohama, Japan​
 
^ Blue Chairs - Very nice, Peter, looks abstract too me. I like it!
Woman with Umbrella​
AVvXsEgmXyhzYbeqrksxTjR-sxYYuF5b3Tz3ag8VD9fRFq9jiYqboz9khqxhSOoftr2BctcxTQY8Si7rgnU2M6PdmAGGnqt9SHFbW0V0vk-fih2Iw9g9BCxq3TrlGJJu7T5vobFCEpSUpPZhVLOULu9yUPMglM9XeiJnRgHEhZx-vkMlrV6zo_9rXE1OKCaA=s2508
Sigma Sd Quattro H
Sigma 35mm f1.4 lens
Yokohama, Japan​
 
Unplanned abstract.

I placed the paper upside down in the printer. When I folded it over while wet and placed in the waste basket, I noticed this image hours later.


Unplanned Abstract #1
by rdc154, on Flickr
 
I’ve been thinking about abstract photography; more precisely what is abstract photography?
If we boil it down to a single abstract photograph… What is an abstract photograph?

I’m really only familiar with abstract art in the form of paintings and sculptures; mainly just paintings. With an abstract painting the artist is free to express their art with no restrictions, their only limit is their skill to express their vision.

A photographer has (in my opinion) a lot more restrictions. The photographer has to point their camera at something. This is where it gets real for me, real as in reality. How does one create abstract images from reality? Maybe I’m overthinking this. It’s just that I don’t think that a close-up of tree bark or rusty steel is abstract. I think that an abstract image is supposed to be expressing a vision, the artist is “saying something”.

All that being said, most of the time (all the time) I try to create an abstract piece of art using a camera, I fail. It’s only an accident when I create something that I think resembles abstract art.

All the best,
Mike
 
I’ve been thinking about abstract photography; more precisely what is abstract photography?
If we boil it down to a single abstract photograph… What is an abstract photograph?

I’m really only familiar with abstract art in the form of paintings and sculptures; mainly just paintings. With an abstract painting the artist is free to express their art with no restrictions, their only limit is their skill to express their vision.

A photographer has (in my opinion) a lot more restrictions. The photographer has to point their camera at something. This is where it gets real for me, real as in reality. How does one create abstract images from reality? Maybe I’m overthinking this. It’s just that I don’t think that a close-up of tree bark or rusty steel is abstract. I think that an abstract image is supposed to be expressing a vision, the artist is “saying something”.

All that being said, most of the time (all the time) I try to create an abstract piece of art using a camera, I fail. It’s only an accident when I create something that I think resembles abstract art.

All the best,
Mike

I think the gold standard of photographic abstraction is Ralph Gibson. There are other who are more abstract, but Gibson’s photos retain a connection to the real world that makes it easier to latch onto.
 
I think the gold standard of photographic abstraction is Ralph Gibson. There are other who are more abstract, but Gibson’s photos retain a connection to the real world that makes it easier to latch onto.

As one old wino to another, thank you for pointing me in Ralph Gibson's direction; it's a big help in understanding the creative process. Much appreciated.

All the best,
Mike
 
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