Thursday, October 30 :: Click Link for assignment >

October 3 : Part 1!

PLEASE KEEP CELL PHONES AWAY!

Expectations:

C: Voice Level 2 (only the people next to you can hear you and no shouting across the room)

H: Ask your team, elbow partner or raise hand

A: Work on the assignment

M: Stay in your assigned seat

P: Work till assignment is completed

S: Finishing your work

Take a moment to check ATLAS!

Are you missing anything? Are your grades correct?

ATLAS

What are ABSTRACTIONS?

A new way of seeing...

WHAT ARE WE LEARNING: Abstractions in Photography

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT: Learning how to capture moments from different viewpoints, which can be interpreted by different viewers in several different ways is important. Being able to capture images demonstrates what you are capable of developing. Exploring creative photography comes down to different abilities to try new avenues within photography.

HOW WILL MY TEACHER KNOW WHAT I LEARNED: You will practice different techniques and gradually show your success!

Abstract In Photography (Stay focused!)

Abstract in Photography_ Stay Focused with Doug McKinlay.mp4

An Abstraction...

Is a small part of a large object.

Is used to focus your audience’s attention into the details of the subject.

Eliminates all unnecessary elements in your photograph.

Should only reveal a portion of your subject, not the entire subject.

What are the key elements of a good abstract photo?

Simplicity
Composition
Angle of View
Lighting
Harmony
Mystery

Abstract photography consists of images created using photography materials and equipment that don’t have an immediate association with the physical world. Abstract photographers use perspective, movement, and light to transform the world we see into an unexpected, often unrecognizable image.

“Abstract photography is NOT representational."

"It might explore the texture or detail of everyday objects, or make you think of something else,” explains professor and photographer Tina Tryforos. There’s no exact step-by-step guide to creating the abstract, but there are some general principles artists can experiment with to bring their photographs into the abstract realm.

Typically, photographs are representations of the real world, but abstract images take things in a new direction. “I always ask beginners to think about the world in a less concrete way. Explore new things and think about light and shadow in a different way and consider shape and repetition. I try to encourage them to step outside of what they know,” says Tryforos.

Play with perspective.

By changing the way you look at the world, and the perspective you view through your camera lens, you can find something unique to convey with an abstract image. Instead of capturing your still-life photo from a traditional perspective, try a few different angles and see what it looks like from below or above. Train your eye to look beyond what’s right in front of you.

Get ready for a close-up.

Another great abstract photography idea is to explore zooming in on a recognizable subject matter. When you remove the object from its actual context, and instead focus on the shadows, texture, and lighting of those individual grains, you’ve created an abstract image.

Abstract Photography Tips...

Start with everyday objects

Customize your lighting

Use elements of design to your advantage

Experiment with different shooting styles

Shoot through Objects

Zoom in/Get close

Capture motion

Post-process your images

Start with everyday objects

Abstract photography involves a lot of looking at things in a different way. It can help if you start with things that you already have at home to practice. Once you get used to seeing mundane, everyday things beyond their usual framework, you’ll be able to think and see things abstractly wherever you are.

Use elements of design to your advantage

Patterns and textures are always interesting to look at. You can blow your viewers’ minds if you include a zoomed out shot of what it really is and where it came from. Similarly, you can use colors to highlight the point of interest or just to add visual impact to your image. Seek out these elements around you and use them to create compelling abstract images.

Shoot through objects

Using a makeshift lens “filter” can help you achieve truly unique and abstract images. Shooting through translucent glass, water, or even a car window on a rainy day can result in distortions and light diffractions that will create unusual but visually interesting images. Don’t hesitate to experiment with other kinds of things you can shoot through. You can then find out how they can affect your image.

Capture motion

Many photographers frown upon subject motion blurring—but not abstract photographers. By simply moving your camera at the moment of taking the shot, you end up with a mix of different colors, lines, and patterns. This looks similar to painting brushwork, depending on the direction of movement. Start with one direction, then left to right. Experiment with circular movements and wiggles. Understand how it affects your images and see what kind of patterns you end up with.

Customize your lighting

Changing the direction and adjusting the power of your light source can provide different effects that yield unique images. Focused lighting on your subject, for example, can emphasize and make it the focal point of your photo. Placing a strong light source on one side can create shadows that will accentuate textures. Even and diffused lighting lessens the drama but can make your viewers linger and really look at different parts of the image, as opposed to just one specific area. You can also look for interesting shadows outside!

Experiment with different shooting styles

Once you’ve gotten a good idea about how different camera settings can affect your output, you can manipulate your results to your own liking. Be willing to shoot out of focus, play with your depth of field, or shoot from very weird angles. You can also rotate your photos, or even change the white balance of your images. Try out methods used in product, outdoor, and even sports photography to create abstract results. This is the part where “anything goes,” and you’re encouraged to exercise your artistic freedom.

Zoom in/Get close

One of the most common methods of capturing abstract photos is to move in closer. You can do this by zooming in or simply get closer to the subject. While it’s perfectly fine to use zoom lenses, they only make distant objects look closer up to a certain extent. Moving closer makes all the difference in lieu of using a macro lens.

This will allow you to get an extra close look at the often missed elements around you. Small insects, flowers, and jewelry are often subjects of macro photography, but when you bring abstract elements into the fold, you can see a whole new side of these objects.

Post-process your images

Aside from exercising your freedom to manipulate your results and create your very own abstract imagery, feel free to go crazy with the post-processing. When it comes to editing abstract photos, there’s no such thing as “too much”. Abstract photographers are encouraged to digitally improve their work later on. You can do this through recoloring, cropping, reshaping, distorting, or flipping images.

OPEN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY FOLDER!

Double click to open the folder on your desktop.

If you do NOT have a Photography folder, MAKE ONE (right click...New Folder)

Create a NEW FOLDER INSIDE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY FOLDER

Name the folder:

ABSTRACTIONS

The Assignment...

For this assignment, you will need to take photographs of a small part of a large object. The goal is to capture the essential elements of the subject and draw the viewer's attention to those specific details.