Abstract Photography Abstract photography can produce very dramatic images. It relies on our more primal sense of form, color, and curves than it does on detail. The problem is that most photographers tend to think in terms of detail when evaluating photographic opportunities. However, it takes a different way of looking at our world to perceive the abstract photography opportunities that surround us. The purpose of this article is to investigate the techniques and subject matter opportunities of abstract photography. This is an in-depth, multi article series that will cover the following topics: ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY DEFINITION There is no standard, universally accepted definition of abstract photography. Actually, it is not easy to create a clear-cut definition of an abstract concept. However, for the purposes of this article series, it is necessary to create a definition in order to put some boundaries around the topic. This makes it easier to determine what falls within the domain of the subject matter. Thus, for this article series, abstract photography will be defined as photography that: 1. Does not represent the subject in a literal way. 2. Communicates primarily through form, color, and curves rather than image detail. This definition brings about a very important point. Since image detail takes a back seat to form, color, and curves, the brains logical processes are more subdued when viewing abstract images. Instead, the reaction is much more instinctual. In essence, abstract photography communicates to the viewer primarily through the viewers emotions. This plays to the photographers benefit because humans emotional systems are much more powerful than the logical systems. Furthermore, the emphasis on form, color, and curves tends to elicit strong reactions from the human perceptual system. This is not just a psychological matter. It is actually hard wired into the human neurological and mental systems. For instance, the human visual system responds very strongly to certain colors and color contrast. In addition, certain parts of the brain are programmed to respond to curves and shapes. This fits in perfectly with abstract photography. When done well, abstract photography can be very much in tune with the human perceptual, mental, and emotional systems. The end result can be very powerful images. It is important to notice that the definition did not say that the subject matter had to be unrecognizable. It is true that, in some abstract images, the viewer can not tell what has been photographed. However, that is just one type of abstract image. WHY ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY The question arises, Why bother creating abstract images? In other words, there are a lot of other photographic opportunities out there. Why would a photographer choose to create abstract images? There are a couple of reasons. First, as just mentioned, abstract images can be very powerful. That in itself is all the justification that is needed. However, there is a second advantage. Abstract images can be created almost anywhere. What that means is that a photographer can create abstract images right at home and in the surrounding neighborhood. This is in contrast to other types of photography, such as landscape photography, where there is the cost in time and money to travel to specific locations to capture images. ESSENTIALS There are three essentials to abstract photography: form, color, and curves. It is paramount that an abstract photographer learns to think in these terms. Form: Form refers to the shape of the objects in an image. Form serves as the framework upon which an abstract image is created. Basically, form creates the core of an image while color and curves add enhancements. Therefore, it is crucial that an abstract image start off with good form. This is done by choosing objects that have pleasing, interesting, or dynamic shapes. Color: Color grabs the attention of the viewer and stimulates the viewers perceptual system. Color not only grabs the viewers attention, it also serves to hold the viewers attention for an extended period of time. If the viewers eyes do wander, the color tends to bring the attention back. One way to use color is to use a saturated or intense color Curves: Curves add interest to an abstract image. They do this by controlling the movement of the viewers eyes through an image. Now, there are a couple of ways that curves can be used in an image. The first way that curves can add interest to an image is to direct the viewers attention to an images center of interest. This is shown in Figure 5. In this image, the curves (i.e., the edges of the petals) point toward the colored center of the flower (which is the center of interest in this image). These curves serve to direct the viewers attention to the colored area. This strengthens the center of interest and creates a stronger image. The second way that curves can add interest to an image is a bit more intangible. With this use of curves, the curves do not point at the center of interest. In fact, they do not point at anything in particular. Instead, the curves simply flow through the image in a graceful or dynamic way. How does this help the image? Even though the curves do not point toward any object, they still serve to control the viewers eyes. When used properly, the viewers eyes will roam back and forth along the curves. Thus, the viewers attention has been captured. COMPOSITION Composition consists of how the objects in an image are arranged with respect to each other. There are many approaches to composition. Carrying out a thorough review of the subject of composition is beyond the scope of this article. However, two aspects of composition, as they relate to abstract photography, will be covered. * Rule of thirds * No rules ART OF SUBTRACTION Earlier, it was stated that people tend to react to abstract photography on an instinctual or emotional level. Therefore, to create great abstract images, all one has to do is remove everything that does not, in some way, strengthen the viewers emotional reaction. This is the art of subtraction. Hope You liked the article.... Happy ClicKing...!! :-)
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 07:36:27 +0000
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