Use light to create abstract frames
When we’re creating photographs W that deviate from our perception of reality, the subject is independently reshaped to create an additional level of interest. This can be achieved by adapting the material and visibility of the subjects, or by using photographic techniques. One such subject is light, which offers great creative potential.
Light is a crucial tool for photography, whether it’s natural or artificial light from a flash. It can be used to achieve different visual effects, and can be shaped and combined with colours to create unique compositions. While the light is more controllable indoors, sunlight can also be great for creating abstract frames. For example, a strong midday sun creates high-contrast shadows that can contribute to and become part of the composition.
PLAY WITH WAVELENGTHS
When taking an abstract approach, an extended shutter speed provides the opportunity to get creative with light, such as turning an existing scene around or constructing a conceptual photograph. In both scenarios, the light sources need to stand out, so the backdrop should be dark.
One approach is to capture the light of moving objects, such as cars, to create light trails. You can also move the camera to control the shape of light sources – this approach is called intentional camera movement (ICM), and we’ll explore this further on the following pages.
To bring your vision to life, you can create a scene without access to a photo studio – all you need is some space, and a flexible LED light source with a bundled light cone
