Train your eye to detect the hidden visual qualities of everyday subjects
A ny 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 have to explain what is depicted; in fact, the aim is not to do so.
The most important skills for abstract photography are observation and perception. Freeing your mind from the functions that the material world and society have ascribed to the object you’re shooting means you can alter the subject’s context from its reality. To do this, select a subject and observe and analyse it. Take your time, move it, or move around it, get closer, and see how it looks in different lighting. Work out what makes the object interesting or unique, and concentrate on enhancing those features. Try doing this as a weekly challenge, with the aim of training your mind to look out for possibilities, and also to become more familiar with the way your camera and lens work.
In terms of the composition, aim to give the viewer direction to help them explore the image, using leading lines and a strong focal point to guide their eyes. While traditional composition rules, such as the rule of thirds and the golden ratio, are handy, it’s good to think more abstractly.
Especially when you’re filling the frame with the subject, leading the viewer’s eye is crucial. Start by taking a wider shot of the subject, and then get progressively closer with each photo. This will help you identify where the leading lines and other visually dominant elements are in your frame. Keep getting closer until the composition of the frame provides the viewer with a mystery to solve, where the subject is transformed and incorporated into a supporting composition.
ISOLATE FOR ALIENATION
Get up close to your subject, and frame tight to discover fresh perspectives on ordinary items
A popular method for creating abstract frames is to isolate the subject from its surroundings, offering the audience a different view that deviates from reality. Two ways to achieve this are by incorporating negative space to give the subject room to breathe, or by taking close-up shots to fill the frame to the maximum
