TECHNIQUES
Think outside the box to cross the line from reality based images to mesmerising photo art
Abstract photography is a dynamic and varied genre that presents endless opportunities to explore and unleash your creativity. In the early days of photography, there was little room for abstract frames. The first cameras served the sole purpose of capturing scenes as they appeared in real life, providing a more accurate depiction than paintings.
However, like most art forms, photography evolved and began to find its creative voice as a reaction against expressionism in the 1920s, when photographers such as Albert Renger-Patzsch freed the medium from its initial function. This period saw the emergence of movements such as New Objectivity and New Vision, where photographers embraced a fresh approach to discovering the technical possibilities of photography to showcase structures, forms and angles in innovative and exciting ways.
To create frames that offer a fresh and unique perspective on familiar subjects, the key is to break away from preconceived notions by transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. This often means removing subjects from their usual context, which renders the functions of objects less important. Instead, the focus shifts to the optical characteristics of materials and colours.
To experience subjects in a new and extended way, we need to train our eyes and develop the necessary observation skills, while also trusting our vision. Breaking traditional photographic rules is an important part of this process, even though it may be easier for some than for others. However, abstract photography is a genre that allows us to have fun, experiment and discover.
Over the next few pages, we’ll explore some abstract techniques that you can adapt to other photographic genres and let you showcase your creative side. We’ll show you how to find fresh perspectives on everyday objects and familiar scenes, showing you how to transform them in a game of hide and seek with the viewer.
Turn reality around
Train your eye to detect the hidden visual qualities of everyday subjects
Any image that does not show reality can be considered abstract. Although people might perceive the level of abstraction in different ways, as long as the photograph causes the viewer to question what they are seeing, it can be considered a successful abstract frame.
The easiest way to portray any subject in an abstract way is to free yourself mentally from its concepts and functions. Abstract photography doesn’t
