What makes a photograph feel abstract, and how can I choose stronger abstract images?
Asked 5/29/2014
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I’m learning abstract photography and need to select three images for an assignment. I’m struggling to tell whether my photos are truly abstract or just close-up/graphic shots of recognizable subjects. What characteristics make a photo feel abstract, and what should I look for when choosing or cropping images so shape, color, line, or form become more important than the object itself?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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IMO, none of these images are particularly abstract. To me, abstract is the opposite of representational--if the subject of the image is an immediately recognizable object, then it's not abstract. :D I can immediately identify everything in your images as the particular things they are. You want the shape/color/form to be of higher importance than the represented thing.
Abstraction is about distilling down to a series of geometric shapes. Matisse, Kandkinsky, Mondrian--they tend to be more about pure geometric form or color as an expression of the subject, rather than the subject's physical appearance. Naturally, with photography, it's more difficult than with painting to get away from exactly replicating appearance, but you can.
Try to find shapes where the geometry of the shape overcomes its "thingness". For example, with your top shot, getting closer to the repetitive corner pattern, so that you shut out the security camera and the sky, and remove the "buildingness" of the shot to just those zigzags, and you'd be closer to an abstract image.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
12y ago
0
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Abstract photography usually becomes stronger when the image is less about identifying the subject and more about experiencing shape, line, color, texture, pattern, or form. If a viewer can immediately say exactly what the object is, the photo is often more representational than abstract.
From the feedback here, your images likely aren’t strongly abstract yet because the subjects remain recognizable. A better approach is to crop tighter, simplify the frame, and emphasize geometry or color relationships so the subject matters less than the visual design.
When choosing your three frames, favor images that:
- make the viewer notice shapes and patterns first
- reduce obvious context and scale
- simplify distractions through tighter composition or cropping
- create a mood or feeling through color/form rather than description
In practice, look for repeating lines, curves, reflections, shadows, textures, and bold blocks of color. Try unusual angles or close-ups that remove normal perspective cues.
So: yes, your photos may contain abstract elements, but based on the comments they are not strongly abstract as presented. Pick the ones that are least immediately recognizable, and consider tighter crops or edits that remove identifying details and strengthen the graphic composition.
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