Abstract Photography

One type of style of photography ive started to spend a bit more time on is abstract photography, mainly abstract nature but hopefully more abstract landscapes too in the future (ive found abstract nature photography to be easier then abstract landscape photography). I love the creativity of it, the fact your not so reliant on ideal weather conditions so you can take them throughout the day & most of all they just look really cool. Now some of my ‘Abstract’ photos are leaning towards close up photographs then true abstracts but I am very much a beginner in this field & over time will improve.

When shooting smaller subjects I use my 100mm macro lens. I generally like to fill the frame with the object but sometimes its better to leave a bit more room for cropping & if your having trouble getting everything in focus with close ups you may have to take it a bit further back. In saying that out of focus can work really well in abstract photography (and most other photography as well). When I can I always use a tripod even when im intentionally shooting blurry photos.

After a failed sunrise shoot at Gibraltar Range NP I had a long walk back to my ute, along the way back I noticed all these colourful Eucalypt leaves along the track with water droplets from light showers overnight & thought theyd make a cool photo. Luckily I had my macro lens in my bag & by the time I got back to my ute I had a heap of images with every colour of the rainbow. I think these ones best represent abstract photography from my collection & are my favourites so far.

Eucalyptus leaf – Gibraltar Range NP, NSW

Rocks are fantastic subjects with there different shapes & colours. I use both my 100mm macro lens & my 21mm wide angle lens when photographing rocks. I prefer overcast conditions or early morning/late afternoon so the light isn’t too harsh & you can capture great detail. I like to imagine there taken from a plain looking down on a harsh barren landscape. The ones below were all taken with my 21mm lens.

Tree bark can also give you some great patterns & colour to play with. Both taken with the 21mm lens.

Tingle Tree Bark – Walpole-Nornalup NP, WA

Giant Tingle Tree – Walpole-Nornalup NP, WA

Banksias are one of my favourite flowers to photograph close up showing there incredible shapes & colours, there large size also helps with filling the frame. My next challenge is when photographing smaller flowers is having a very shallow depth of field & see if I can get some abstract images that way. These ones are definitely leaning towards close ups but as subjects they have great potential.

First time Photographing Surfers