24 Feb 2008

How to photograph abstracts - part 2

Pablo Picasso, arguably the greatest abstract painter of all time, spent years learning the craft of fine draughtsmanship before he created his unique abstract art. The moral of the story?... learn the rules before you go and break 'em
So here are just ten practical ways to get more from abstract photography...
Practical camera skills will lead to better abstract photographs.
Look more closely at everyday subjects.
Look for strong colour, lines, shapes and textures.
Shadows can be included to create abstract shapes.
Place your rectangle around the most interesting part of the subject.
Try to exclude any obviously recognisable elements.
Create visual puzzles to make your viewer think.
Don't always tilt your camera at an angle this is a hackneyed, overused idea.
Look closely at the natural world to see beautiful abstracts.
Think about presenting a finished set of abstract photographs as a montage.
Photograph above:
So what is it? This type of puzzling photograph doesn't actually need and answer. For me it is enough to enjoy the diagonal bands of colour and the shapes created by the shadows. If you really want to know, it is a picture of upturned canoes

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

My college tutor told us to just go out and be creative but didn't say anything about how to use the camera.
Thanks for the help.

Anonymous said...

yeah, thats what my tutor did - no real help on the practical side - just get out there and create art. Didnt help when I tried to get a job in photography after I left college.
Cheers Jo