For those of you who have been with Earthimages for a while, I guess I needn’t tell you that I love photographic abstracts. Software editing abstracts are not my favorite, although I find some I like. My favorites are those that caught the eye of the beholder (photographer), while in the field, and minimal if any subsequent work is needed after the fact. That’s why I love using the word “abstraction”, as an action verb. As in, he/she did a great job of abstracting that scene yesterday.

Exactly what is or is not an abstract, is truly a matter of opinion. I see total abstracts, partial abstracts, somewhat abstract, and “abstract like” visuals scenes around me every single day. My language and my visual opinion, may differ from yours.
Most of today’s images are very old instead of just old as is usual. I just happened to be exploring an old hard drive and began to see a theme. Not an abstract theme, but an obvious theme of abstractions.

Can a flower with a bit of dew be considered an abstract merely because it is a (in the field) crop? I ask the quest seriously. I suppose most would say whom cares, and I admit I have a need to categorize images, at least my own images.

What about animal portraits? I do believe a close-up of a Monitor Lizard with all those scales and patterns can be an abstract, but the one below is just a super close-up.
Oh that eye though. He/she is looking at you.

Winter is the optimal season for natural abstracts.
I have always liked this first one. The natural path of those limbs and branches along with the snow patterns and “shocking blue” sky make it visually delightful.

This next one is “busier” and less naturally organized. I still like the journey it takes us on, from close to us, to the sky.

There is a lot of high contrast light in winter. The angle of the sun (at this latitude), is low on the horizon in winter, even at midday. I believe high contrast, can not only help create abstractions, they can be in and of themselves, an abstract.

Snow fields and snowy hillsides can be “abstract friendly” to the photographer. Much in the same way sand dunes can. The scene below reminds me of White Sands New Mexico, although I suspect I was a bit chillier while making this shot than I was for any of my White Sands photos. The warm light of sunrise has biased the the color of the scene much as it does to White Sands.
Notice that once again, low angled, high contrast light aided me in accentuating the shapes and in creating an abstract.

Now I’m getting pretty “iffy” when it comes to the label abstract. My view, certainly wasn’t normal so to speak. I suppose, when I look at three trees that live in the water, and I only see the trunks, the water, and their reflections, then maybe I made a picture of such that is abstract.

This was captured originally on film at Reelfoot Lake State Park in Tennessee.

Winter branches with snow, is not the only wat to create an abstract of a tree in winter.

An abstract can be busy like the last image, or it can be organized and simple. Water falling in straight and repetitive angles, is a simple and elegant abstraction.

Interesting, or better said arresting light, and the creations of man, make for nice abstract photos. Sailboats at sunrise.

In some respects this is my favorite photo that I have shared today. My tastes can run a bit to the odd, I do admit. I like the bazaar color, and the way the light dances off the shapes and designs of the subjects. A surreal morning? Maybe, maybe not. In the end, a photo will stand on its own. I do not even remember creating it. The exif data is missing, but I suspect it might be a film picture that I copied into the digital format.

I wish each of you a day filled with beautiful abstractions of reality.

May God Bless,
Wayne

ps
I have been enjoying creating these recent photography only posts, but I will always write about religion, politics, social issues, and my personal observations on the world around me.